Another Taste of Summer Charity BBQ event has wrapped up, with money being raised to go to a local cause, as Estevan residents come out to have lunch. This week, we were at Prairie Dawg Sales and Rentals, supporting the Estevan Early Years Family Resource Center with $1245.55 raised.
Rochelle Krahn, the program coordinator at the center, says she's thrilled to see so much support from the Estevan community.
"It's amazing to see the community come together and put the money towards the families. It's going to a great cause. All the programs we put on at the center so that they can be free for families, so they can always come and check out what's new and what's happening, like fun, developmental, and enriching programs."
The lunch also allowed Krahn to speak with people face-to-face about the programs and connect with families new to the program and regulars.
"It's always interesting. It's present families that used to use the Family Center as a resource when we were in our old location, and now we're welcoming new families. So, it's a mix of both, the old families who have grown-up children, and then there's the younger families with the new children that are coming to the center."
Their programming spans across a number of areas, with Krahn saying they welcome a lot of kids from across the community.
"We host zero to five programs like Fine Motor Fridays, Low Sensory Play, Toddler Discovery Plays, and we host them all through the week. In the summer, we host camps for children from zero to five, or four and five-year-olds, and then six to 11-year-olds in the afternoon, and they've been successful. Our August camps are all full this month, which is awesome."
Other programs include the arts and sports, and even sometimes involve community collaborations.
Krahn says that the center can act as a helping hand for some of those families if need be.
"Something that we do offer is that we have a formula. So, if you're needing formula and you're in need because those costs add up, we do offer that. You can call us, and we ask that the parents come in if they're able to, and we have formula to give to them, or we have postpartum boxes for moms. We ask, again, that they come in so that they can see the center and what we have to offer for new moms and the joys of parenthood. We also have a diaper pickup if you are in need of diapers and the means aren't there."
Krahn encourages people to contact them by calling in at 306-634-7233, emailing them at EstevanFamilyCenter@sasktel.net, or by heading to their Facebook page.
The center is also searching for a new executive director following former executive director Sydney Wanner's resignation at the end of June.