Therese White, 33, like many single moms, is often too exhausted at the end of a long week to find creative activities with her children on the weekend.
Thanks to Casa Otonal, the Peabody Museum, and the parent involvement program Parents and Communities for Kids (PACK), White brought her two sons, her niece, her nephew, and the children of two family friends, pictured, to the Peabody — for free.
“It’s great to have the kids here, rather than at home in front of the TV,” White said. “They did something, saw something, and learned something.”
White, a dental assistant, is also diabetic and has not been able to return to work since her daughter was born 11 months ago. She plans to return to work soon.
Casa Otonal, a senior housing facility for area Latinos, provides an afterschool program for 35 kids from the Hill section of New Haven as a component of PACK. The children are primarily low-income abd between the ages of 6 and 12.
Through its partnership with PACK, Casa Otonal works to encourage “intergenerational interaction,” said Associate Director Tomas Miranda, pictured with Luz Betzncur, the youth services director. Each child is assigned an adopted grandparent — an elderly Casa Otonal resident — and is also encouraged to work with their parents on assigned projects.
On Saturday, Casa Otonal had planned a trip to Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, but the $30/person cost was prohibitive. Instead, the Peabody opened its doors to the PACK event, free of charge; Casa Otonal was responsible only for the cost of the bus ride over.
For Nisha Barr, 27, the free transportation was a huge plus, especially since her car is in the shop. On Saturday, Barr, a direct support professional for people with developmental issues, brought her daughter and two nieces to the museum.
“It teaches them that they can do other things with their time,” Barr said. “The kids woke up early, they were so excited.”
WATCH OUT THERE'S A GIANT BEAR THAT'S ABOUT TO MAUL YOU!!!