YMCA opens Early Learning Center

Facility to provide classes for youngsters up to age 5

LOWER POTTSGROVE » YMCA Freedom Valley YMCA officially opened its doors to its new Early Learning Center on Thursday.

The Early Learning Center at 100 Heritage Drive will continue to provide education programs for children from the age of 6 weeks to 5 years old.

“This is a great facility,” said Shaun Elliott, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA. “It’s a significant improvement.”

The center moved from its original location in the YMCA building at 724 Adams St. in Pottstown because YMCA officials announced that the building would close by the end of June. (A new owner is taking over the Y building and it will remain open.)

There is already a lease on the new Early Learning Center for 10 years. The new center was repainted and new floors were put in before opening up.

“We’re really proud. This is a great facility,” Elliott said.

The Early Learning Center will be able to provide full day education to about 11 more family than before, at 156 families total, according to Elliott. The curriculum, he said, will stay the same.

All but one family from the previous location will be joining the YMCA at the new facility, Elliott said.

The YMCA is hoping for the facility to receive three stars from Keystone STARS by September, as the old location had, according to Zakiyyah Boone, vice president of Child Care of the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA.

“I think this is the quality of environment all children should have,” Boone said. “We’re really excited.”

Investing in kids, “especially under the age of 6,” will provide the highest return, according to Elliott.

“It’s really an investment in our future,” Elliott said. State Rep. Tom Quigley agreed. “The emphasis of the past 10 years have really been to try to ramp up our attention to early education,” Quigley said. “We’re hoping that State Legislation will pass within the next week or two to add more addition money to the pre-K line.”

A parent who used the Early Learning Center at its previous location spoke of her experience with the facility.

“The YMCA brought him in with open arms,” Kimberly Mullen said with tears in her eyes. “They’ve opened their hearts. They’ve opened their minds. They’ve really gone above and beyond to help him be more productive at school but also to make sure that he’s learning and developing with the care that he needs.”

MONICA SAGER — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The ribbon was cut Thursday at the new YMCA Early Learning Center in Lower Pottsgrove.

MONICA SAGER — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA The new Early Learning Center allows the YMCA to provide education to a few more families.