There are a few of us – I start with myself – who are receiving stimulus checks and can choose to give them away to a deserving and worthy cause. Mariposa’s governing board has green-lighted a fundraiser to support the center at this crucial time to help cover the payroll of our staff until we’re able to once again re-open. Our goal is to raise $10,000 which would cover most of one month of payroll in order to support and retain our staff of five teachers. I’m donating my whole check – once it arrives – to this fundraiser.

Mariposa has been awarded a PPP loan/grant which will cover about seven weeks of staff payroll. This fundraiser will help cover our payroll for additional weeks of closure. We’ll keep this fundraiser open, beginning today (April 22) to May 8.

Mariposa FLC, a new full-day childcare center in southeast Austin, serves low-income families. Mariposa opened on January 30 of this year, and like so many other providers, had to temporarily close its doors with the outbreak of the coronavirus. Mariposa, licensed to care for twelve 3-year-olds, employs a dedicated staff of five: a full-time director, a full-time lead teacher, and three part-time teachers. We have four families who are ready to bring their toddlers back, once we re-open.

Our director, Sheila Pharis, has worked extremely hard and well to have hired and now trained a dedicated staff of four teachers, three of whom are bilingual. Each one of these teachers, along with Ms. Pharis, has a compelling personal story that cements their dedication to early childhood education. The organization deeply desires to keep this staff together at this crucial time of Mariposa’s beginning.

Our currently enrolled families and other families in the Montopolis neighborhood will desperately need accessible childcare immediately upon being allowed to return to school or work. This fundraiser will allow Mariposa to be fully staffed when it re-opens its doors to serve children and their families at the precise moment this emergency situation eases.

Five teachers, four toddlers, and seven parents/caretakers – in addition to another eight toddlers and their families who can take advantage of Mariposa’s services upon its re-opening – would benefit from your generosity. Mariposa FLC is a 501.c.3 non-profit and 100 percent of your donation goes to support our staff.

Contact me at tca.blueocotillo@gmail.com if you have any questions, and, to let me know if you can support Mariposa FLC with part or all of your stimulus check. Others, of course, are welcome to contribute – whether check recipients or not. To all of you: many, many thanks!!!

• Pastor Tim Anderson, Director of Community Development for Austin City Lutherans and fundraising director for Mariposa Family Learning Center