Let Kids Shine!
Mano en Mano’s bilingual childcare center, Rayitos de Sol (“Little Sunbeams” in English) is growing!
Rayitos de Sol opened its doors in 2021 with the mission to provide bilingual, student-centered childcare services so that all kids can shine! The center acts as a bridge to connect families from different backgrounds so that language and culture are celebrated enrich our whole community.
After two years of serving more than 30 families it is time to expand! We have begun construction on a new childcare building located in Milbridge, ME will help the center serve more families and kids!
You can help Rayitos de Sol build brighter futures and…
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Grow Capacity
The new space will increase the center from 1 classroom serving 12 children, to 5 classrooms that serve 64 children (infants, toddlers, preschoolers, elementary age students).
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Expand Services
With more space, we can expand from serving toddlers and preschoolers (1-5 years old), to include infants all the way to children of elementary school age (6 weeks old to 12 years old).
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Develop After-School Programming
Elementary School kids need support to shine too! The new Rayitos facility will house a new after-school program for elementary school students to have the space, supervision, and support to shine.
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Create Jobs
The new center will create 9 new jobs that pay a liveable wage (on average $5.75-$8.75 dollars more per hour than the state average for childcare providers), and have full benefits.
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Nourish growing brains and bodies!
The new center will house Our Mercadito, Mano en Mano’s culturally nourishing food pantry that is open and accessible to everyone in our community.
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Connect community members
The new design incorporates important community building spaces open to local families and folks to plan events, hold meetings and more!
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Provide important outdoor and indoor recreation spaces
Recreation spaces are crucial to support healthy bodies, minds and environments. Outdoor and indoor recreation spaces will help busy kiddos play and develop their gross and fine motor skills year round!
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Increase Accessibility
Rayitos de Sol is the only program in the area offering accessible childcare through the Maine Child Care Subsidy program, and supports migrant families overcome systemic barriers to access childcare through our scholarship program, La Familia Fund.
When Kids shine, our communities are more vibrant
Our goal is to raise $1.7 million for the development of the new Rayitos de Sol Bilingual Childcare facility. The new center will expand our operating capacity, create new jobs, and provide meaningful community spaces for all!
Curious about the new building? Learn more about the design and how you can be part of building a brighter futures for families in Maine.
You can help build brighter futures, so all kids can shine
Families in Maine need your help to build brighter futures!
Your gift will go to work immediately and give kids in Maine a supportive environment to learn and grow. You can make sure that kids in our state have the foundation to shine and families have what they need to grow and flourish.
“Child care services are an essential part of our communities’ ability to thrive.”
— Parent, Rayitos de Sol