The child care business is facing strong economic pressures. 2-1-1 Child Care, a nonprofit organization that provides free referrals to child care programs statewide and free training resources to early care professionals, has new data that demonstrates the impact of the economy on the child care industry:
• 56 percent of the child care centers that closed in 2009 reported doing so because their business wasn’t profitable
• The Connecticut Department of Social Services reports that Child Care Center vacancies increased 16 percent in 2009.
• The number of families receiving Temporary Family Assistance increased 8.4 percent in 2009
• The number of individuals receiving SNAP benefits, such as Food Stamps, increased 32 percent in 2009.
With the 2009 unemployment rate coming in at 8.5 percent, its highest in decades, many without jobs find themselves without a need for child care, according to a release from 2-1-1 Child Care.
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The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut has begun selling tickets for its annual “Evening of Wishes Gala” to be held on Saturday, April 24 from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket. The event will celebrate the wishes of the Beneski family of Avon. The event is the largest and most important fundraising effort undertaken each year by the Connecticut chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. For information and tickets, go to http://wishct.kintera.org/gala10 or call (203) 261-9044.
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Donations from Big Y customers and employees were collected at all 56 stores to benefit Food For All, a program of the Food Industry Crusade Against Hunger. More than $72,000 was raised in 2009 to benefit local hunger charities. Gloria McAdam, president and CEO of Foodshare, accepted a check for $14,500 on March 12, representing the donations of Big Y customers throughout Hartford and Tolland counties.
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Eastern Connecticut Health Network will be the signature sponsor of the third annual Greater Hartford Women’s Conference. The April 28 event provides a day of professional development and networking. it is a program of the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce, will be held at Maneeley’s Banquet and Conference Center in South Windsor. For information, go to www.greaterhartfordwomensconference.com.
