Robert Blechl
MEDIA CITY CENTER -- Burbank youth will be in the spotlight Saturday
during a city-sponsored expo at the Media City Center mall.
The ninth annual Child Care and Youth Services Expo will be held 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. at the mall. An array of Burbank nonprofit organizations
will be on hand to introduce parents to day-care programs, local youth
activities and the latest measures to keep their children safe and
healthy, organizers said.
The event, presented by the city's Parks, Recreation and Community
Service Department, is targeted for parents with children of all ages.
Kids are invited and can participate in face painting, button making and
creating balloon animals.
The exposition, also sponsored by the Media City Center mall and the
Walt Disney Co., was created to make working parents aware of the the
options that exist for their children in the area.
"It actually came out of child care committee, a group of citizens who
came together to look at child care issues within the city," said Patrick
Thomas, recreation services manager. "But we found so many different
things that it grew from there. Now it's a forum where all the agencies
that provide services to kids come together."
Among those providing information and samples of their activities will
be the Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Burbank YMCA and Burbank Youth
Employment. The DARE van will also be wheeled into the mall and the
Burbank Library's literacy program will be on hand.
"It gets all the agencies in one spot so parents can ask questions
right there instead of making 20 calls all over the place," Thomas said.
"They find out what is going on in the community for their children."
And the perks for little ones can be twofold, Thomas said.
"Depending on the involvement of the child, the benefits are both
recreational and educational," Thomas said. "Kids can get an
introduction, they get to experience a little bit of the different things
there."
IF YOU GO
WHAT: The 9th annual Child Care and Youth Services Expo.
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Media City Center mall, 201 E. Magnolia Blvd.
INFO: Call 238-5378.
