The First 5 Fortuna Playgroup will be expanding to three days a week, thanks to a donation from the two Fortuna Rotary clubs. Both Fortuna Sunrise and Fortuna Noon Rotary clubs gave $1,500 to make the expansion of the program possible.
Layla Richardson is the leader of the First 5 Fortuna Playgroup and said the donation will expand the program from two to three days a week.
“Layla came to the two Rotary clubs and said her First 5 Playgroup was very successful for two days a week and that she had the opportunity to expand to three days a week,” Fortuna Sunrise Rotary President Chirs Broadstock said. “We recognize that this is a big community development program for youth in our area and we want to continue to support that.”
Brian Gonzalez, president of the Fortuna Noon Rotary Club said, “I love this program because my kids went to this Playgroup when it was being held at the Multi-Generational Center in Fortuna. It’s a good program and a good way for kids to socialize.”
The program takes place at the Gene Lucas Community Center on the McLean Campus. The Rotary clubs’ donations will pay for the expanded three-day-a-week program for the next year.
Richardson said the program is beneficial to youth and their families.
“This is a great place for families to meet other families in the community and create bonds and gives the kids an opportunity to interact. What I definitely love about this program,” she added, “is the one-on-one time, where kids get to be interactive in person, face to face, and build connections.”
The First 5 Fortuna Playgroup started at the Gene Lucas Community Center in 2020 with five children and grew to 25 children participating just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Today between 20 and 40 children participate in the program on a daily basis. Activities include field trips to local places, visits from Nature Joe, and on the last Tuesday of every month, Fortuna Librarian Violet McCrigler visits.
