Salt Lake City — Utah is facing a 65% gap between the need and the capacity at approved childcare facilities for youth under 6 years old according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services’ 2020 Child Care Access in Utah report. In Salt Lake County, that means over 35,000 kids need childcare at a licensed facility. Parents and caregivers are looking for flexible, quality childcare while still making ends meet.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake provides one of the most trusted and affordable childcare solutions in Utah, offering a lifeline for working families. With the high cost of childcare continuing to rise, Boys & Girls Clubs ensures that quality care remains accessible to all by providing care for children ages 3 and up at a cost of $145 a week or less. With operating hours from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm during the school year, for many working parents, this program is essential.
Brittany Elder, a long-time Club parent shared her story: “As a single mom earning $40K a year at the time, I struggled after my son’s father and I divorced. He was just 18 months old. Half of my income went to daycare costs. When he turned 4, I discovered the Boys & Girls Club. To say I’m grateful for this program is an understatement. Their affordable daycare allowed me to keep my job while going back to school and finishing my degree.” Brittany’s story is one repeated across many Club families. When parents and caregivers have reliable childcare they can afford, they can reach for their great future and provide more opportunities for their families.
“Boys & Girls Clubs have historically always responded to the needs of youth and families in our communities: right now, childcare is an urgent and overwhelming need in the Greater Salt Lake region. Childcare is a critical resource for working parents, and we are proud to provide an option that offers both affordability and quality,” said Amanda Ree Gardner, CEO & President. “We know it takes a village and it is a privilege to offer parents and caregivers a safe place for their kids while they go to work, while they further their education, and while they take care of all their daily activities.”
Both Miller Family Boys & Girls Club and Sugar House Boys & Girls Club are equipped with childcare facilities and have availability for children ages 3 and up. The program also accepts childcare subsidies through the Department of Workforce Services and will work with eligible families to become enrolled in this program. To sign up, visit one of these two sites and speak to the membership coordinator at the front desk to see how soon your child can start. Learn more about childcare at www.gslclubs.org/licensed-childcare. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake accepts donations to support their work, including childcare, at www.gslclubs.org/donate.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake
Established in 1967 in Murray and Sugar House, the Boys Clubs in Utah were among the first in the country to include female Club members. In 2015, the merger of the two Boys & Girls Club organizations became one of Utah’s largest youth development agencies. Now with seven locations in Salt Lake, Tooele, and Carbon counties, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake maintains an enrollment of nearly 4,500 youth and teens, and serves 1,200 each day in afterschool and summer programs, fulfilling our mission to inspire and empower youth to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring adults.
To learn more about Greater Salt Lake Boys & Girls Club programs, please visit gslclubs.org or call (801) 322-4411
Contact:
Emma Pickens
Marketing & Communications Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake
801-322-4411