Westfield Area Y Leaves the “Lights On” in Honor of National “Lights on Afterschool Day”
Thursday, October 13, 2011 • 6:50pm
WESTFIELD, NJ - On October 20th, children from the Westfield Area Y afterschool program will participate in the national “Lights on Afterschool” event. The name symbolizes the need to keep the “lights on” and the doors open to all children and families looking for quality before and after school programs. Sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance, the 2011 “Lights On Afterschool” initiative commemorates the 14th anniversary of the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers which has made afterschool programs available to hundreds of thousands of children across the nation. Still, funding has not kept up with demand and millions of children are alone and unsupervised each afternoon after the school days end.
In celebration of “Lights on After School,” Rita’s of Westfield located at 107 Quimby Street in Westfield will donate 20% of purchases on October 20th to the Westfield Area Y School Age Child Care Program. Please visit Rita’s between 6:30-9:00 pm on and bring the flyer found on the Y website, www.westfieldynj.org with you to support the program. “We are all so proud of our afterschool students,” said the Westfield Area Y’s School Age Child Care Director, Carolyn White. “There's no reason that learning should stop at 3 pm, particularly if the alternative is unsupervised time in front of a television set, or any of the dangerous or unhealthy behaviors that can ensnare children in the afternoons.”
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Visit www.westfieldynj.org to learn more about Westfield Area Y programs that provide a safe, nurturing environment for children to learn, grow and develop social skills or contact Carolyn White at (908) 233-2700 x273.
