CHILDREN’S SERVICES

The Reelfoot Day Care and the Tenne Butler (Tiptonville) Day Care provide encouragement, training, nurture and love for pre-school children in a safe, supportive environment. The daily schedule includes breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Creative activities such as music, art and drama are provided. High priority is given to social skills, independence, psychological growth, and health. Several former day care students have now graduated with honors from area high schools. The encouragement and training they received in day care made a lasting, positive impact on their lives.

All parents are working, or in a jobs training program, or in school. Their childcare fees are based on income. "Support-a-Child Scholarships" and other donor dollars supplement the income-based fees to make childcare affordable to all parents.

The Reelfoot Day Care is licensed to serve 38 children, 1 year through 5 years of age. Transportation is provided to and from home. In this rural community many children would not be able to attend without transportation.

The Tenne Butler Day Care is licensed to serve 48 children, 6 weeks through 5 years of age. It was opened in 1999 to meet the tremendous need for affordable, infant and toddler care.

The Christmas Toy Store provides five new toys each to over 1200 children each year. Donated, new toys are arranged in a store-like setting for parents to select toys for their children. Parents "purchase" the five toys for only $1.00. But that dollar helps maintain the dignity of providing for one’s own family. And most important, children are not made to feel like "charity cases."

Hundreds of Volunteers and Donors "make the Toy Store happen" each year. Donated toys are delivered to the Center, sorted and displayed by volunteers. Parents are assigned a shopping time. And volunteers staff the store and help with the shopping.