Lunch with Legislators event on Friday to provide voice for families to address childcare needs

PALMYRA, Mo. — Data shows there is shortage of childcare options in northeast Missouri, making it difficult for many working families to find the care they need.

To raise awareness of this issue and its impact on local families, a Lunch with Legislators event is being held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 at Palmyra United Methodist Church, 1800 S. Main. The event’s hosts are Kids Win Missouri, Douglass Community Services and the United Way of the Mark Twain Area.

Denise Damron, executive director of the United Way of the Mark Twain Area, was selected to participate in a fellowship program with Kids Win Missouri that strives to amplify the voices of families with children in the policymaking process to ensure that the needs and well-being of children and families are at the center of policy decisions.

This event, Lunch with Legislators, is part of that fellowship program. The goal of the lunch is to provide an opportunity for local families to share their stories with local legislators on how the lack of available childcare, cost of available childcare, etc. has impacted their lives. As these legislators head into session, they have the stories of families within their district at the forefront when it comes to making policy decisions.

In a press release, Damron said, “We want this to provide parents in northeast Missouri with a platform to share their stories about childcare and preschool challenges with local legislators. By understanding the real-life experiences of families in our community, legislators can gain valuable insights to develop solutions that address the childcare gap and ensure all children have access to quality early childhood education.”

The Lunch with Legislators event is a free opportunity for parents to connect with their elected officials and discuss the importance of affordable, accessible childcare. Lunch will be provided by Kids Win Missouri, and the first 20 registered attendees will receive a $25 gas gift card as a thank you for their participation. Childcare will be available on site.

Registration is required at https://forms.microsoft.com/r/MmPXesuAcm.