6.D.(1) Staff Report Hansel Center

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'TINY WOODEN CHAIRS and miniature BOOTS NEEDED -Carrie Bradley, 1 and Mary Bryant, Hansel Center~so~ • workers on detached service from Far end Children's Center, are worried that enter's annual boot exchange; scheduled a.m: to. 1 o: m.Nov. 2 wilC.not:.~Q ofl ;tables were filling quickly as the smell of holchicken and corm drew children to the day caxe center cafeteria. A boy clad in jeans and a sweatshirt with "Marty'.' written. in big black letters across the, back glanced up from his food just long enough to spot a photographer. "Ar~ you going to take my picture?" he s~jed wistfully. - He.might not have had much to smile about if it weren't for the ,Hansel Neigh- ' borhood Center, which operates ythree day care centers for preschoolers•in South Bend. Each center is different;~~uf all follow a planned curriculum tokf'ep young minds busy while teaching valua- ble lessons: Hansel Center, which offers a variety of community services, oversees three centers -Episcopal, Martin and the Learning Twig. The Episcopal center, in operation six years, was opened by mem- be~s of the St. James Episcopal congre• gation in cooperation with the Catholic piocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and United Way of South Send. Martin center is making its second year of operation' 'this month, and the Learning Twig had •been open a year last October. Each center has at least four on' its staff, including a director, according to_ N'i1He Green, executive director of they Hansel Center. Volunteers from thei ''Youth Services Bureau also help oubwith the approximately 60 children at Episco- pal, 90 at Martin and 95 at Learning: .Twig. Sg 1` ~~-13 "''I5'i(.2'~3 MOST OF THE.FUNDS for the day care centers come from the state De-°' partment of Public' Welfare's .Title `4 `program. Fees 'are charged families whose children attend, Mrs. Carte Brad-i ley of the Hansel staff, explained, _ a)<; though special arrangements are made ,with parents who are unable to pay. At preseut the day care operation is the best ,funded of all Hansel's services, but infla- tion and rising costs have ade~ money tighC, Green added. -~G;,C ` There presently is awaiting list for ;children who want to attend the centers, :Mrs., Bradley said. "Parents should re- member to fill. out day care applications early;;:'. she said,, "especially for our sum- mer progri}m.". Space is tight because of, ;limited funding and openings usually ifiII quickly, she said. The emphasis is on learrtiifo at the; centers, but crafts and recreation:keep, the youngsters busy throughout the day.', 'And with the books,. toys and games available, a child is given a lot to smile about.