Pathways of Hope is a new foundation to marshal resources and collaborate with community organizations and government entities to address the pressing social issues of the city of Williamsburg and the counties of James City, upper York County and New Kent County by making available:
- financial assistance to parents or guardians for childcare,
- tutoring services for children at risk,
- daycare program for seniors 55 and up, and
- caregiver training and support.
Our Plans Forward
As we start out, our goal is to raise $100,000 to start up the foundation and to initiate a grant process for parents and to network with the private, licensed childcare facilities in the service area.
Our next steps are to identify a facility to house a senior day care program and to staff it with trained volunteers and part-time employees. Additionally, we want to initiate a needs assessment to ascertain what childcare and senior services will be needed in the near future.
Why Child Care?
The Issue. Research tells us that children who enroll in quality childcare facilities are better learners in school. Parents, who struggle to make ends meet, are forced to make difficult decisions, such as reducing the quality of their family’s food and their children’s educational opportunities.
The Solution. At Pathways of Hope, we don’t want people to have to make those kinds of heartbreaking choices. Our goal is to help parents or guardians, who are financially strapped, to provide quality childcare for their children. Our first step will be a grant process to allow parents to place their children in outstanding childcare.
Why Senior Care?
The Issue. Research shows us that when seniors are socially engaged and mentally stimulated, the onset of dementia is slowed. Unfortunately, the demand for these types of services is far greater than the resources available. There are more seniors in the greater Williamsburg area than anywhere else in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, most of the senior day care programs are located within the City of Williamsburg, but there are none available in the Lightfoot, Norge, Toano, or Barhamsville areas.
The Solution. The foundation wants to help address the needs of the growing senior population. We plan to provide an innovative senior daycare program in the service area, assist with transportation, and offer respite and training to caregivers.
Pathways of Hope 