YMCA of Marquette County gets kids’ program grant

MARQUETTE — The YMCA of Marquette County has received a grant that will allow it to better serve area kids during the school year.

The Michigan Department of Community Health has given ten YMCAs across the state grant money for before-school and after-school programs.

The Y of Marquette County has received $50,000. The funding will support programs at K.I. Sawyer, Birchview School in Ishpeming and Lakeview School in Negaunee.

“This grant money allows us to operate,” YMCA of Marquette County program development leader Laura Murawski said. “We are a licensed facility with all of our programs, and it allows us to keep a very affordable program for those families. It’s $3 a day, or $15 a week if they come morning, afternoon or both.”

The programs remove a burden from parents that have to rush to get to work on time in the morning. It also eliminates the need to rush in after work to pick the kids up again.

“The curriculum that we follow is called the Food and Fun,” Murawski said. “Our program is based on healthy nutrition and physical activity with the kids.”

Parents can drop kids off before school starting at 7 a.m. and they can stay after school as late at 6 p.m. Each site has space for about 30 children per day.