Day care center seeking help
WATERVLIET, N.Y. » Officials from the Blessings Jermain Day Care Center, located at Jermain Memorial Church, said they are now turning to the community for help with keeping the day care operating after the property was robbed a few months ago.
Lorraine Keith-Morale, Executive Director of the Blessings Jermain Day Care Center at 601 5th Ave, said that the old historic property was broken into shortly before Christmas with the thieves taking things like the property’s snow blowers along with damaged computers and other teaching materials from the day care facility.
Watervliet Police Chief Mark Spain confirmed that on Dec. 19 the property was robbed of miscellaneous equipment, merchandise and tools but he did not have a value of the items stolen. Spain also said that no arrests related to this incident have been made.
“It affected us greatly, we have not recovered from it as of yet and it’s affected us to the point that we have to replace that stuff in order for us to be able to keep our lights on and the program running,” explained Keith-Morale, who said the program serves over 40 children since it opened over a year ago and she is worried all of those children would be displaced if the facility had to close.
Keith-Morale said that since the day care is a not-for-profit organization that they don’t have a lot of disposable income and they are now hoping that the five communities they serve will help them in any way possible. KeithMorale said they serve Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Green Island and Watervliet.
“We’re hoping to reach out to the community to get some type of help and assistance because we are doing great things with the church and there are a lot of good things that we are doing here that the community is not really aware of,” said Keith-Morale, who said she is also unsure of the value of the robbery. “This building has been a part of this community for a very, very long time.”
Keith-Morale said that now the facility has to make sure its sidewalks stay clear of snow, with workers now having to shovel the entire property by hand so that they don’t receive any state violations for not doing so.
“Without no snow blower we can’t keep our [ property] clear and that’s a state violation and that affects us monetarily as well,” said Keith-Morale.
Keith-Morale said the facility is planning fundraisers with a spring celebration one being planned now at the facility for April 7.
“We are reaching out to get help because we don’t want to close our [church] doors, we don’t want to close our [day
care] program, we are a not-for-profit and we are in need [of the communities help],” said Keith-Morale. “We want people to know that we are here and that this property is a beautiful place, it’s a church of miracles pretty much.”
Keith-Morale said that anyone who wants to make any donations or help in any way can contact the facility at Jermain Memorial Church at 601 5th Ave, Watervliet, N.Y. 12189 or the day care facility at (518) 244-5113.