St. Alban's Center gets ready for back-to-school

On Saturday, July 30, Back to School preparations were in full swing at the St. Albans Child Enrichment Center in Coconut Grove. Friends, family, administrators, faculty and anyone with a heart all chipped in to help get the early childhood facility in tip-top shape for the return of the toddlers and pre-schoolers this August. At upper right are Katherine Sands and Mary McBeth.

Volunteers armed themselves with paint brushes, brooms, and mops to meet the day head on. They spent the morning painting walls, scrubbing carpets, and stacking shelves with all kind of groovy art supplies.

St. Albans Childhood Enrichment Center is a 60-year-old institution that services the disenfranchised population of Coconut Grove and South Miami by providing childcare to pre-school aged children of working mothersand families below the poverty line.

During the 2006/2007 school year, St. Alban's provided innovative wrap around services (education, health, nutrition, disability and social services) to over 300 families in Miami Dade County at three locations and through 10 Family Day Care Homes (FDCHs).

Under the direction of Dr. Franklin Sands, St. Albans Child Enrichment Center was the recipient of the Gifford Lane Art Stroll’s benevolence awarding them over $2,000 from the festival’s proceeds in March of this year. Also St Albans partnered with Joseph C. Grant, Jr. and Mary McBeth with their Arts To Literacy program to create “Spider-Man Saves The Day,” a children’s book entirely written and illustrated by the Children of St. Albans.

The book is going on sale this month at The Book Store In The Grove. All of the proceeds from the sale of the book goes to assist to St. Albans on its quest to become a leading institution in early childhood care and education in South Florida.