“To have a space where parents come in and see that it’s nice, it matters,” shared Albert Vega.
“When things are nice, the kids take pride in them and take responsibility for them. They feel good and you can just see it…they feel valued and it makes them happy.”
As a veteran staff member, Albert holds firm to the belief that every child deserves a safe place to play, an inviting environment for learning and growing.
Our sites in South Camden and the Fairview neighborhood have seen a number of critical upgrades in recent months – including renovations to bathrooms, the kitchen, and complete overhaul of the antiquated HVAC system.
But even small changes – like replacing the blinking fluorescent lights in the Fairview basement with bright, fully-functioning lights to showcase the colorful paintings on the walls – has transformed a “creepy” space into one that invites creativity and joy.
“It’s a friendly space now – and kids want to be there,” Albert noted. “These upgrades legitimize our programs to the public and to our families. When a parent comes in to sign up their kid, they want to see the space, they want to make sure their kid will be safe there.”
There’s also a new fence around the Fairview yard, where they can play group games, football, or sit and talk at the picnic tables without any concern for stray dogs or balls rolling into the street.
Now it’s the final stretch for our Fairview site – installing a playground!
And the kids are clear about what they want – swings and a basketball court. They ask about them every day.
Warm weather is just around the corner and we’d like to install the playground in March, so Albert and the kids can take full advantage of those early spring days!
With your support, we can make it happen!
Thank you in advance.
Lindsey Markelz
VP of Development & Finance
P.S. We’ll be sure to send pictures once the playground is complete!