VIRGINIA, USA — In support of a White House initiative to remove barriers for people wanting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, all 21 locations of the South Hampton Roads YMCAs will be providing free drop-in childcare.
Over 500 YMCAs across the country have agreed to take part in the initiative which will run June 9 through June 30. All you have to do is reserve your spot online here.
Dean Mattix is the Chief Strategy Officer for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. He’s also a parent, so he knows the challenges parents face with or without a pandemic.
“As a parent, there’s just a lot of barriers, you know?” Mattix said.
The drop-in care is available for children between the ages of 6 weeks to 12 years old, and a YMCA membership is not required to take advantage of the initiative.
Caregivers must reserve their space at least 24 hours in advance and each child receiving care must have their own reservation.
You can find a list of the locations taking part in this initiative here.
The effort coordinates with President Joe Biden’s national Month of Action to get 70 percent of Americans vaccinated by July 4th.
"The vaccine is free for everyone, however, many unvaccinated Americans report concern about the potential ripple expenses of getting vaccinated, such as having to pay for child care," read a statement from the White House.
"Get your vaccine. We'll take care of your child, and hopefully, it will help our community reach the 70 percent goal," said Mattix.
Once you drop off your child at the YMCA, there’s a two-hour window for pickup.
You must complete a registration for each child.