Richland County’s largest childcare facility was recently upgraded courtesy of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeastern Ohio.
On Thursday morning, the Mansfield YMCA unveiled its new childcare equipment purchased through a grant of $12,780 from the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The funds helped purchase new rugs, tables, chairs, bookshelves and kitchenettes for the four preschool and two toddler rooms at the Mansfield YMCA, as well as one preschool room for the Lexington YMCA.
“This was a huge need, we had not replaced a lot of equipment since the building opened in December 2000,” said Cristen Gilbert, President and CEO of the Mansfield YMCA. “We can’t thank you enough, the kids love it.”
The new equipment was purchased largely through local company School Specialty and Illinois-based company Discount School Supply. Gilbert noted that Mansfield company MG Energy provided a volunteer to assemble all the new equipment.
Gilbert explained the YMCA is the largest childcare provider in the county with four centers; the Mansfield center holds 210 children throughout the day and the Lexington center holds 76 children. Other centers located in Richland County include Ontario and Crestview.
This isn’t the first time Ronald McDonald House Charities has provided assistance to the Mansfield YMCA. According to Ann Newman, Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeastern Ohio, the charity helped provide playground equipment for the YMCA when it was first built almost 15 years ago. The charity provides services in 20 counties in northeastern Ohio.
“We help organizations that provide services to children,” said Newman. “We’re always looking to partner with those organizations that provide service to children in any form and fashion. Obviously the YMCA does that, hands down the largest childcare center in Richland County. They’re helping to take care of children and families, and that’s what we do.”
Many community projects are often funded by the community itself through donations at local McDonald’s restaurants, including the seven Richland County restaurants owned by Mansfield resident Jeff Monica. Newman said McDonald’s restaurants in Richland County are the most generous – local owners, operators and customers donate more than $2,000 per store, per year.
“Richland County customers are phenomenal givers,” she said.
