By Valerie Franchi, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – The Shrewsbury Child Development Committee (SCDC) has been helping families in the town for more than 40 years. The volunteer community organization provides low cost and free activities and classes for children from birth to 6 years old.
According to President Jenn Luke, the SCDC provides a safe, comfortable network where parents and children can learn and build relationships that will last long after preschool.
Activities include a drop-in playgroup, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classes, music classes, art classes and holiday parties.
According to Luke, the SCDC is constantly evolving.
“As new babies are born and children grow up, the faces at our events change,” she said. “The events change also to suit the evolving needs of our community.”
The organization is a real lifesaver for families with young children in the area. Local resident Becky Lombardi, mother of a 10-month-old son, has found the SCDC a great resource.
“Bringing my son to playgroup each week gave me the opportunity to connect with other parents in the community, while watching my son play and grow with a group of his peers,” she said. “It has been a lifeline while navigating this new world as a first time parent in a town that my husband and I are still fairly new to.”
Lombardi has also been involved as a volunteer, helping to run the playgroup.
“I feel fortunate to have a group like this in Shrewsbury where people volunteer their time and talents in order to offer different programs, activities, and events for infants and young children,” she noted.
All SCDC activities are open to families in Shrewsbury and the surrounding communities. Parents, grandparents and caregivers are all welcome to the planning meetings. There is no membership and no annual dues.
The organization is run entirely by volunteers and funded through fundraisers.
Luke noted that the key to the SCDC‘s success is participation.
“Parents who bring their families to the events, who share their ideas, and volunteer their time – they are the ones who make the SCDC work,” she said.
Visit www.scdc.org to join the email list to find out about upcoming events and classes or to find out about volunteer opportunities.