Early Learning Centers of Lubbock receive $100,000 grant

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - It’s a typical July day. Kids at Early Learning Centers of Lubbock are having fun on the playground, but this wouldn’t be possible without proper care and funding.

The childcare agency has been awarded a $100,000 Generational Learning Grant by Texas Mutual Insurance Company.

Lena Scaff is the executive director for the centers. She’s been a part of the team for 33 years and works to help young families.

“What we’re trying to do is provide high quality, affordable daycare,” Scaff said, “so that parents can go to work or school and improve their self-sufficiency, while we’re helping the children get ready to go to kindergarten so they’re kindergarten ready and be able to learn everything there.”

There are five child centers here in Lubbock. They serve children from newborns to 12 years old in the summer, and children up to the age of four year-round.

Scaff says the grant money will go a long way to help them help others.

“Childcare is a very expensive deal, and we’re trying to do it as affordably as possible, so the parents can afford it,” Scaff said. “But you know, in the economy we have right now, everything has gone up.”

The center’s mission is “educating and nurturing young children and their families for successful futures.” Scaff has seen children and families come and go over the years, but one thing is for certain. They’re upholding the mission every day.

“We have lots of families that were here when I was a teacher,” Scaff said, “and now those parents’ children are now coming back and they have their children. They stop me and say “hey I came here as a child, I had great memories and you know how much I learned there, so I wanted to bring my children here so they can get that same start.”