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Giving parents a break

Salmon Arm Secondary Interact Club provide free babysitting with activities from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10.

If you’re a parent of young children, ask yourself this: “What would I do with two hours to myself?”

Area parents are going to have the opportunity to do just that – for free, as members of the Salmon Arm Secondary Interact Club provide free babysitting with activities from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 10.

The intent of  GMAB (Give Me a Break) is to provide parents of young kids an opportunity to relax, have coffee, do some errands and return feeling refreshed, says Jackson campus vice-principal Gene Doray.

A Rotarian with the Daybreak Club, Doray says Rotary sponsors Interact in order to get youth interested in serving their community.

“They can give back to the community that has done so much for them as well as looking forward to getting involved in international projects,” he says, praising School District #83 director of instruction Wendy Woodhurst and her secretary Bonnie Kelly for helping to get the club under way.

At the moment there are 12 students in the club, but Doray believes the numbers will grow through word of mouth as other kids get wind of the project.

While the service will be provided only one day in December, Doray says plans are underway to hold the two-hour GMABs twice every month beginning in the new year depending on availability of the gym.

While the babysitting service will be free, Doray is inviting parents to bring non-perishable food for the food bank.

Parents are also asked to call Bonnie Kelly at the school board office to book a spot or spots at 250-804-7826.

“The more the merrier, but we just encourage parents to give a call first so we have a head count, and we’ll be excited to work with the kids,” adds Doray.