‘This program is a godsend’: Grandmother Expresses Gratitude to Catholic Charities Child Care

Amanda held her four-year-old son Jayce’s small hand as she walked him into Catholic Charities Boston’s Child Care Center in Peabody for a tour of the program. As soon as the two stepped into the colorful, warmly lit center, they were greeted by the familiar face of a childcare instructor, who instantly recognized Amanda from when she herself attended the program as a child over thirty years ago.  

“I was flabbergasted,” Amanda’s mother, Janet, said later. “She recognized my daughter immediately. To have employees with such longevity speaks volumes about the quality of the program.” 

Janet said she and Amanda were thrilled when Jayce received a slot to join the Peabody Child Care Center in October. A single mother of two children, Amanda had previously been unsuccessful finding such a high-quality and affordable childcare program in her area. For this reason, she was exclusively working night shifts and weekends, while Janet babysat Jayce so that she could be available to care for her son Monday through Friday during the day.  

“It is mind-boggling how expensive childcare is nowadays for parents, and the fact that Jayce got a slot in this program – we are so grateful I could just cry,” Janet said.  

Since joining in October, Janet says that Jayce – who she describes as a bundle of energy and curiosity, always wanting to play – has made incredible strides in his social, emotional, and cognitive development.  

“School is as much an emotional and social thing as it is academic,” she said. “This program has been amazing in giving Jayce a sense of structure and routine and preparing him for kindergarten. They are always learning something new, but they keep it fun for the kids.” 

As much as the program has impacted her grandson, Janet says it has impacted her daughter as well, granting her time to focus on supporting herself and her family, while knowing her son is  growing every day.  

It doesn’t feel too long ago, Janet says, that she was dropping her own children off at Catholic Charities childcare center in Peabody. Having been a single mother herself who worked long hours in the restaurant business for 50 years, Janet said she was overwhelmingly grateful to Catholic Charities for providing her children with exciting learning opportunities and expanding their horizons.  

“Catholic Charities was a lifeline for me. As a single mother, I couldn’t always afford to do as much for my kids, but Catholic Charities gave them so many memorable experiences,” she said. “They went on all sorts of field trips and were always participating in fun activities.” 

Now, thirty years later, Janet says she feels blessed to witness her grandson become a part of the tight-knit Catholic Charities community as well. She knows he is in the best of hands.  

“This program is a godsend for us,” she said. 

 To learn more about Catholic Charities Boston’s child care programs, click here. To find out how you can support Catholic Charities Boston’s clients in need, visit our Ways to Give page.