KUNA, Idaho — More parents living and working in the growing rural town of Kuna will be able to put their kids in child care starting next week.
The Boys and Girls Club of Ada County is opening its first new center in more than a decade in Kuna on Monday, creating greater opportunities for kids and teens in the community.
"A step up doesn't even tough what we're doing," Kuna Director Cori Norton said. "It's a leap up."
The nonprofit cares for kids five to 18 years old. It's been in Kuna for more than a decade, but never had enough money to build a space there until recently when nearby company, CS Beef Packers, donated $4 million to the project.
The new building costs $11 million in total, Norton said. The rest of the money came from other donations.
Plant Manager Steve Cherry said the company got involved after realizing they would rather invest in an existing child care center with expertise rather than create their own for employees.
"It's extremely exciting," Plant Manager Steve Cherry said. "There's nothing for kids, and there's very limited daycare available pretty much elsewhere, and it's very expensive ... this gave us an opportunity to help support the Kuna community."
Parents pay $35 per kid each week, Norton said.
Historically, she said they have run child care programs out of too-small school district buildings, namely a gym. But they are at capacity and needed a new building to accommodate the need and all the growth in the area.
They will be able to serve 400-500 kids and teens now, an increase of a couple hundred. Before, she said they did not have the space for teens.
"We are so grateful for the school district to have been able to provide us the location we've been at," Norton said. "But we are so grateful for our larger location."
In addition to the teen center, the new location has a cafeteria, tech room, art room and tutoring room. Cherry said it is a win not only for the company but the entire community.
"It absolutely helps attract people to Kuna, and it absolutely helps attract employees here because we will have that support structure in place," he said.
Giraffe Laugh will also move into the building. The daycare cares for kids zero to five and has other locations throughout the valley. Norton said Giraffe Laugh's grand opening is later this summer, while the Boy and Girls Club is Friday afternoon.
"To have such a wonderful, wonderful place for the kids to come and families to entrust their kids to our care to help keep a safe place for them. This is what we need. This is what we're all about," she said.
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