Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 20, 2005 Light One Candle Kids Unlimited needs van to help students after school EDITOR’S NOTE: "Light One Candle" is an annual Mail Tribune feature focusing on the single need of an individual, family or agency during the holidays. For working parents of young students, school breaks and holidays can be a transportation nightmare. Half-day Wednesdays. In-service Fridays. Winter, spring and summer breaks. If parents are lucky, they have understanding employers and flexible schedules that can accommodate a quick trip across town to take a second-grader to the baby sitter. If they’re not, a construction delay could cost them their job. Advertisement Indeed, many parents are forced to choose between jeopardizing either their employment or their children’s safety. One local social service agency aims to ease that dilemma for low-income parents and children in Medford. Kids Unlimited offers free after-school programs, youth sports programs and low-cost camps that keep youngsters safe and engaged. Recently, however, demand for Kids Unlimited services has escalated to include five after-school sites and growing numbers of young basketball players. These days, the agency is stretched more than ever as it tries to provide transportation for some 500 children each day after school and another 300 for activities on evenings and weekends, says Executive Director Tom Cole. On Wednesdays, when Medford schools release students at 1 p.m., staff members must shuttle children in shifts to meet the demand, says Cole. At night, staff members take turns making sure kids get home. "The hard part is, many of our parents have no transportation themselves," says Cole. "We think it’s part of our responsibility to deliver the kids safely." This holiday season, Kids Unlimited would welcome the donation of a 12-passenger van to help ease the transportation dilemma. The agency can afford to hire a staff driver and to insure the vehicle, but not an outright purchase. "We’re in the middle of our ‘Raise the Roof’ capital campaign," explains Cole, who is trying to generate $1 million for a new gymnasium and youth center. "We’d like another vehicle, but at the same time we’re working hard to build a gym so we won’t have to drive so much." For information about donating a van or helping out with the gymnasium, contact Cole at 774-3900 or at 210-1066, or by e-mail at [email protected] For more information about "Light One Candle," contact reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487 or by e-mail at Kids Unlimited needs van to help students after school ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations dvd-r Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Advertisement s