DESIRÉE DECOSTE

STAFF WRITER

With over three decades of quality early learning and childcare services in Prince Edward County, the HUB has plans to bring everything home to their headquarters at 10 McFarland Dr.

Over the past six years the HUB Child and Family Centre, formerly Prince Edward Child Care Services, has been working towards expanding their footprint in the Industrial Park on McFarland Court in Picton.

In October 2018 the non-profit, charitable organization retrofitted the inside of their current 6,400 sq. ft. HUB space to create more licenced childcare spaces but unfortunately eliminating space for the EarlyON programming and some of the administrative staff.

“Our  current goal is to add an additional 3,220 sq. ft., offering more opportunities within the organization and the community by building a multi-purpose space for workshops, gross motor activities and parent education,” HUB Executive Director Susan Quaiff said.

With luck on their side, The HUB have had a great opportunity renting space nearby through their partnership with Community Living Prince Edward and have been able to continue operating playgroups and administration programs.

The EarlyON parent/child playgroups and licenced childcare services have provided programs to 85 per cent of the children in the  community from  birth to 12-years-old and want to continue to grow and achieve 100 per cent.

This addition will offer permanent program space for the EarlyON parent/child playgroups and administrative offices.

“We’re asking for the support of the community to help them achieve this goal as over the past six years we have been able to obtain reserves that have set us in good standing to move forward with the expansion,” Quaiff explained.

The HUB has collaborated with valued community partners to offer programs and resources for all families which include the following:

• In 2014 they received a grant through The John M. & Bernice Parrott Foundation Inc. to start their own children’s garden and outdoor classroom, where children learn about growing their own healthy food from seed to table.
• For several year they have offered a program cooking with families once a month using the Good Food Box through our partnership with Community Development Council of Quinte (CDC).
• In 2015 they started offering products through the CDC Good Baby Box program and they want to continue to support these programs and other community initiatives in the additional space.

Michael Hymus, owner of Angry Birds restaurant, has offered a donation of 100 per cent of one week of sales to go towards The HUB project in October.

The organization collaborates with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health and Prince Edward Family Health Team, Triple P a positive parenting program to offer parent education.

All the great programs will be a reality in this HUB model of services in the expanded space.

For more information or if you are interested in donating towards the HUB project please visit http://thehubcentre.ca/the-hub-childrens-garden-project/ or contact Quaiff at 613-476-8142 or email susanq@thehubcentre.ca