Re-Opening of Parents Day Out

by Rev. Eric Folkerth

This week, our Parents Day Out Program opened back up for the children we serve here in North Oak Cliff. We are operating on a significantly limited basis, with very small classes and rigid protocols. This is consistent with what many other United Methodist childcare programs are doing in Dallas County, and at key points our Staff Parish Committee and Board of Trustees have consulted in this process. In fact, we have learned that a significant number of childcare programs in our Dallas area churches have been operating and open for some time.

Obviously, this is a challenging decision and not without risk. Special gratitude goes to both Pastor Kay Ash and PDO Director LaTara Thompkins, who have been putting in very long hours over the past several weeks preparing for this. As we said, the class sizes are extremely small, both out of an abundance of caution and out of the self-selection of our PDO parents. This will hopefully allow our PDO staff to “soft open” and see just how functioning at a reduced level might work over the long haul. I would ask you to continue to pray for all of our staff and PDO families, as they daily navigate the difficult decisions and processes of being open during the time of COVID.