KenCrest’s Early Learning Centers are continuously helping the children we support and their families, especially during the holiday season.
By Sydney Kerelo
One October morning at a local woman from the community and a young girl walked in. This local woman helped the program director, Rosaida, for many years connect with community children looking for enrollment. But this instance was a little different. At first glance, Rosaida noticed something was off; the girl, let’s call her Anna, looked troubled and was wearing clothes that were too small for her. She showed signs of struggle, poverty, and neglect.
Rosaida discovered that Anna and her father had just crossed the border from Honduras. Her father rented a room with many other people in a house until her mother and brother joined them later.
He had a job but worked day and night, so a woman from the neighborhood stayed with Anna and helped to take care of her. She wanted to enroll Anna in the Early Learning Center, but the father could only come on Saturdays when the center was closed. Rosaida opened the center for the day and met with the family. She looked at her more closely and again noticed something was not right.
“I noticed in her eyes that she was not acting like a child; she looked like she was in survival mode,” says Rosaida. “We brought her into the office and tried to give her food, and normally, kids rip open the snacks and eat them, but she didn’t. She wanted to save it, which is a sign of struggle.”
At this point, the weather had changed. It was getting colder, and the teachers noticed Anna wearing tights, short t-shirts, and shoes that didn’t fit properly. It was apparent that she needed new clothes. A group of teachers and staff members came together and began buying her everything she needed: pajamas, clothing, jeans, socks, underwear, etc.
Rosaida even bought her toys. “I thought, ‘I wonder if she has any toys at home.’” She bought her a baby doll with a bathtub, diapers, and different clothes. When she saw the toy, Anna’s eyes lit up.
“I saw the child come back,” says Rosaida. “She kept saying she had a baby, which we assumed was her brother. And she was so excited about the baby doll.”
By the end of February, Anna’s mother and brother arrived, and they were in the same condition: tired, scared, and lacking even the basic necessities. Again, the teachers and staff bought them clothing, house supplies, and baby items. They even went to Murphy’s Giving Market, a volunteer organization that provides food and works to fight food insecurity in the Upper Darby area. They grabbed everything they could for the family.
Anna’s life is entirely different now. She is no longer the scared girl struggling to survive; she is happy and healthy. She now walks into her classroom, says hello to her teachers, gives hugs, and even makes friends and shares her toys with other little girls.
“I have been a director here for ten years now, and we have seen a lot of families who struggle,” says Rosaida. “Recently, a child attending the center lost their father suddenly, and it is our job to show a certain level of caring not only for the children but also for the families and what they are going through.”
Throughout the year, all of the teachers in KenCrest’s seven Early Learning Centers try to support every student and family member they can, but they can’t do it alone. This is why the Harvey Davis Family Fund is such a blessing for our ELC communities.
In 1999, Rev. Harvey Paul Davis, a member of the KenCrest family, began the Family Fund to help others with limited resources in the communities KenCrest serves. He started rallying friends, family members, volunteers, and donors to come together and bring joy to their communities during the holiday season.
Now, 25 years later, the Family Fund continues to do just that. With support from local communities, volunteers, and more, KenCrest can continue to help support those we serve.
“The reason why KenCrest has lasted for 120 years is because we have people that really care, that don’t hesitate to give more, and that resonates with people,” says Rosaida. “We’re going to do whatever we can to help, not only through service of the child but also through work supporting the families.”