we donated $250. i agree that it's nice to have the financial break. but i don't think it's easy for the furloughed daycare providers even if they are working as nannies. this is a tough situation all around. donate what you can -- no big deal if you don't either.

I would donate, unless your income has been reduced because of this. If you're not paying for daycare (we aren't), it's money that's already in your budget. Unemployment may or may not be something they're getting and it doesn't last forever. They may or may not be nannies now, certainly not everyone is able to willing to put their health at risk by working face to face right now.

It's really easy to sit here and find reasons to hold on your money, but the reality is that any of us fortunate enough to pay thousands of dollars a month for daycare are doing better financially than anyone who is providing us childcare. I probably make 3X what anyone caring for my kids makes and I know from the talk here that I'm far from the 1% of this forum. At that point, me hand-wringing about whether they're also getting unemployment or doing better than they usually do is unjustified. They're a part of my community that makes my life possible, I'll be for them when they need me without worrying that maybe they'll do a little better than their usual poverty wages for a month or two.

I wouldn’t donate due to the lack of transparency...

I’d toss in $100 for teacher appreciation week... but I’m not just giving anyone $4,000 (what I pay for two kids)...

Have the teachers been laid off or furloughed?
Have the teachers received unemployment?
Did the daycare apply for/revive a PPP loan?
How will the donated funds be distributed? Staff, administrators, teachers? Based on years of service, etc.?
Have they set up a system where daycare workers could work in families’ homes?
Is the daycare still open and charging tuition to essential workers?

If you really want to donate thousands of dollars, your money may have more of an impact donating to the DC Diaper Bank or the Capital Area Food Bank, it literally anywhere else other than just handing over a few thousand dollars with the idea that it’ll probably help someone.

Anonymous wrote:Between unemployment and working as a nanny under the table our preschool teacher is making double what she made teaching.

+1

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t they get unemployment?

I’m a furloughed preschool teacher attempting to apply for unemployment and it’s been insanely difficult.

That said, op, if you are stretched, don’t donate. But know that a lot of preschools won’t survive this pandemic. Not sure about your daycare. So if you need to rely on them when it comes time that they can go back, it may be worth to help out—plus a donation is tax deductible.

Why can’t they get unemployment?

My sister got furloughed and received unemployment for a while and said it really wasn’t so bad. So I finally put pen to paper to figure out what our daycare teachers were eligible for. If they’re earning $15/hour, then with the supplemental $600/wk in unemployment benefits, they’re at least breaking even. A lot of them have babysitting jobs on the side right now too.

I donated to them because of my conscience...but the daycare teachers are ok as long as they’re eligible for unemployment

I would not be donating. I bet you all of the daycare providers are working right now as nannies for families from daycare. They provide an in demand service right now. I would save donations for people not in demand.

Between unemployment and working as a nanny under the table our preschool teacher is making double what she made teaching.

Anonymous wrote:What kind of provider is this? At our center, issues with things like overcharging would have nothing to do with the teachers, so wouldn't really effect what we'd donate.

We were in this situation as well. We didn't donate every dime we normally would have paid. We've probably contributed 2/3 of our normal costs. That seemed reasonable to me. We can afford it and teachers our kid loves are out of work. I assume they're getting unemployment, but it seems fair to share some of what we have when other people don't.

They have a one man billing department. Non profit small provider. The teachers aren’t exactly my sons favorite— but his friends makes it so he enjoys school. There are 3 teachers in his class and only 1 of them is warm and engaging. The rest have given me the cold shoulder but I’ve scaled back on engagement knowing they are working and don’t have time for idle chat or general pleasantries.

Nannies are in high demand right now. The teachers could easily find safe work.

What kind of provider is this? At our center, issues with things like overcharging would have nothing to do with the teachers, so wouldn't really effect what we'd donate.

We were in this situation as well. We didn't donate every dime we normally would have paid. We've probably contributed 2/3 of our normal costs. That seemed reasonable to me. We can afford it and teachers our kid loves are out of work. I assume they're getting unemployment, but it seems fair to share some of what we have when other people don't.

I say give what you can. That always makes a person feel better. We are all stressed out but at least you know where your next meal check health care and housing is coming from. Not many like you if you’re reading the news. Do what you can.

I donated half tuition. Still helps them, still helps me.

I’m a single mom teleworking full time and helping my son through his day. His daycare put out a call for parents to donate to furloughed teachers. I’m on the fence about this. Part of me is finally getting a financial break after not paying daycare but I’m also very stressed out and beyond tired with no help. At the same time I feel this urge to donate but can recount his provider doing erroneous things like overcharging me tuition and dismissing me when i needed it corrected, or losing items from his cubby that I ended up replacing. The relationship hasn’t been spectacular but I don’t have the same expectations and relationships work both ways. What I know is that I’m in a fortunate position but having mixed feelings about helping. I’m not a selfish person by nature so I just need hand holding. What would you do?