DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF)-IKEA locations in Frisco and Grand Prairie teamed up to provide $20,000 in play essentials for North Texas children enrolled in the YMCA’s COVID-19 Emergency Child Care Services program. With COVID-19-related school closures and the urgency for essential workers to report to work, there was a critical need for safe childcare options. In response, in March the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas began offering free emergency childcare at select branches. “We quickly had to transform our locations into emergency childcare facilities but we didn’t have the right supplies and tools to make it conducive for a fun learning play environment,” said Suzana Delgado-Gray, Executive Director & VP of Operations for the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. “North Texas IKEA Design teams came and looked at our locations to help us with the design and supplies,” she said.
IKEA’s donation contained items such as play mats, toy trains, dollhouses, toy storage and art essentials that are easily sanitized to fuel children’s creativity, learning and fun. “IKEA is committed to creating a better everyday life for the many people. It’s our belief that this commitment shouldn’t only be demonstrated in the products we provide, but also by making direct contributions to the communities in which we operate. We’re happy to be able to make this kind of impact in the lives of children,” said Regional Market Manager Derrick Liburd.
Today, emergency childcare is provided at six locations across North Texas for families of first responders, healthcare and hospital workers, government officials, grocery workers and others who must continue to work during this challenging time. These sites and additional sites will be added to support off-site summer programming.
