Toddle Inn fundraising for $10K after government funding cuts

Times Reporter      

 

After losing government funding for approximately $10,000 per year, Toddle Inn Daycare is now looking at ways to make up those funds. 

The government used to give all accredited centres quality support funding every year to purchase specific items for the children. 

The Toddle Inn Daycare, has two programs. One is daycare, which would receive $7,500 a year to buy equipment for programming and training for workshops and facility upgrades. 

For the Out of school care program, which is in the same building, Toddle Inn received about $2,500 per year. The government cut the funding in April, and since then, Toddle Inn staff and the board have been looking at ways to find new funding. One idea that was suggested is a Community Harvest Supper. 

“I thought about this dinner, I would like to host it twice a year, that way we can just keep the cash flow going for the Toddle Inn,” said Lisa Hodder, a member of the Toddle Inn Daycare board. 

“We’re just trying to get the community out and involved so they know about the Toddle Inn. Then we decided we’re going to have a cake decorating contest as something different.”

The harvest supper will take place at the Hope Community Covenant Church on Oct. 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. There are 260 pre-printed tickets; anyone who purchases a ticket in advance can enter that ticket into a draw for two WestJet travel vouchers. There will also be tickets at the door, but those will not be eligible for the WestJet voucher draw.

There will be a silent auction of the cakes entered in the cake-decorating contest. Following a fall theme is the only guideline.

The dinner will be turkey and ham with all the fixings, said Hodder. 

“We’d like to raise at least $10,000 that would cover us for the next year for toys and (other costs). But…we’re hoping to host this twice a year so that we can keep cash flow going. If we only raise $5,000 great, every little bit helps for the daycare,” said Hodder. 

Toddle Inn is non-profit and is also a registered charity that was incorporated in 1981.  The Alberta government subsidizes daycare for parents who are lower income and who go to a licensed facility, which Toddle Inn is. The current facility is in need of upgrades, both to the building and to the toys and equipment the children use. 

Roxanne Jones, director for Toddle Inn Daycare, is concerned about potential fee increases, but says it’s a wait and see scenario right now. It depends on if the Harvest supper is successful.

“We have to do something, because if we really increase the fees then parents won’t be able to come here, even with the subsidy,” said Jones.

“The building needs new siding, it was built in 1981, so we would like to put new siding on the building and we would like to upgrade the computers.”

Tickets for the Community Harvest Supper are selling for $15 for an adult, $10 for a youth or senior. Family meal tickets can also be purchased, which includes two adults and for kids, for $40. IN order to be entered into the cake-decorating contest all cakes must be dropped off at Hope Church between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Oct. 2. Tickets can be pre-purchased at Toddle Inn Daycare or by calling 403-934-5139.