Rayitos de Sol lets 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 to provide bilingual, student-centered childcare services so that all kids can shine! Rayitos de Sol acts as a bridge, connecting families from different backgrounds and celebrating language and culture so that our communities become more vibrant.
After two years of serving more than 30 families - with many more on our waiting list - it is time to expand! We have begun construction on a new childcare building located in Milbridge, ME to serve more families and kids! The new space will help:
Grow Rayitos current capacity of 1 classroom serving 12 children, to 5 classrooms that serve 64 children (infants, toddlers, preschoolers, elementary age students).
Expand ages served at Rayitos de Sol from 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).
Develop a new after-school program for elementary school students to have the space, supervision, and support to shine.
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.
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.
Connect community members by incorporating common spaces open to local families and folks to plan events, hold meetings and more!
Provide important outdoor and indoor recreation spaces for busy kiddos to play and develop their gross and fine motor skills.
Learn more below!
Rayitos de Sol Case Statement
At Rayitos de Sol we believe that every child, no matter where they are from or what language they speak, deserves the opportunity to shine! Learn more about the history, mission and vision of Rayitos de Sol by reading our case statement.
We need your help to complete the new Rayitos de Sol Bilingual Childcare building and let all kids shine!
The goal of the campaign is to raise $1.7 million for the development of the new childcare facility. To kick off the campaign, earlier this month we announced that we are raising $50,000 in 50 days so that the youngest members of our community have a bright start from the beginning.
Give today because for the first 10 days, a gift of any amount makes double the difference! Every gift you make will be matched by an anonymous donor (up to $50,000). All funds raised will go directly to the construction and development of the new Rayitos de Sol facility.
Your gift will go to work immediately and give kids in Milbridge a supportive environment to learn and grow. You can make sure that kids in our town have the foundation to shine and families have what they need to grow and thrive.
When kids shine our communities flourish! That is why we need your help to give children a bright start.
If you would like additional information about Let Kids Shine, ways to support children in Milbridge, or are interested in naming opportunities please visit the Let Kids Shine website or contact Emma McDowell (emma.mcdowell@manomaine.org)
