The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON-Employees of the Columbia County Health System are being assisted with their childcare needs thanks to a $12,500 award from Innovia Foundation, according to The Club's manager Jim Pearson.

Pearson said The Club, the Columbia County Health System, and the Dayton School District have coordinated the childcare program. Between twelve and fifteen youth, ages two through eleven, are being served by the program, which is located in the Dayton School District facilities.

The Club's Program Coordinator, Carrie Hennigar, the Club's Youth Development assistants, Anna Fortier and Rose Burris-Ramierez and some students from Dayton High School have each contributed twenty to thirty hours of their time to the program, each week.

"None of them had any guarantee of being paid for their time, but they all selflessly stepped forward without hesitation," Pearson said. "I am extremely proud of each of them, but I also felt strongly that they deserve to be paid for their time."

Pearson said he is grateful to Innovia Foundation, which is a key financial supporter of The Club and other local organizations. Innovia Foundation has its headquarters in Spokane.

"They have been instrumental in The Club's mission to provide quality after school and summer programs to the youth of our community, and this latest contribution further demonstrates their commitment to supporting important local efforts," Pearson said.

The childcare program is open to the children of First Responders, staff in the Sheriff's Office and essential health care workers. It became available shortly after the emergency school closures were announced in March.