By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays Area Children's Center is seeking sponsors for its annual Bright Lights for Little Tykes fundraiser from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Fox Theatre.
The center is a non-profit child care facility that offers care for children from birth through preschool. The center is licensed for 88 children. That includes school-age children during the summer.
Only 75 percent of the operating costs for the facility are covered by student tuition.
Grant funding has helped with capital needs, but the center relies on fundraising to cover the operational expenses gap.
The center's fundraising goal is $100,000 for the 2022-23 school year.
Jessamyn Staples, center board member, said preserving the child care spots at the center is essential to the community. A survey conducted by the Ellis County Child Care Task Force indicated there are 10 children for every one child care spot available in the county.
The center remodeled its kitchen about five months ago. The center's chef, Austin Petz, has introduced 500 new meals to the center. This has included ethnic foods, as well as a farm-to-table program that includes produce from an onsite garden. Petz estimated the center will reap more than 100 pounds of produce from the garden this season.
The preschool students have snacktivity breaks, during which they learn to prepare their own snacks and learn meal manners.
Tickets for the fundraiser will be $75 each or a table of eight for $550. The philanthropist, benefactor and contributor sponsorships come with varying levels of benefits, including tickets to the fundraiser.
The center's board is accepting both monetary donations and in-kind donations of auction items.
The fundraiser will include a gourmet meal, two drink tickets, a short program, an auction and live music entertainment with DOC.
The center is hoping to secure all donations and sponsorships by Nov. 1.
Tickets are available now. Click here to purchase tickets online.