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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The YMCA of Chilton County is adding before-school care to its programs for the community.

CEO and Director Lori Patterson said the program will be open to the entire county and will start on Feb. 1.

“We have been thinking about it for over a year,” Patterson said. “… We just have people ask all the time about before-school care.”

Many parents have to be at their job at 8 a.m. and getting their students to school between 7:20 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. and getting to work on time can be challenging, Patterson said.

A $50,000 grant from the United Way of Central Alabama is helping to jumpstart the program.

Patterson said this allows the Y to keep the costs low.

Cost for the program will be $5 per week for students already enrolled in the after-school program and $10 per week for those who are not.

Initially, the program will be able to serve 50 students. Registration is required and can be filled out at the Y on Ollie Avenue or by calling 205-755-2382.

“If the need is there, I feel like it will definitely grow,” Patterson said.

Drop-offs for the program will be 5:45 a.m. to around 6:45 a.m.

“We will do an academic review time,” Patterson said. “There will be a certified teacher here.”

The program will also include breakfast and possibly some game time.

Students in before-school care will be transported to their school in one of the Y’s buses. The Y has two buses that are used by the after-school program and would be used for before-school care.

“It is another way for us to serve the community and meet the need that seems like it’s there,” Patterson said.

She said she hoped the program would help relieve some stress for parents.