The Wish List was established three years ago by the Skyline Business Department but recently started one year ago because of the lack of donations. The Wish List is when people don’t know what to do with their old items. They can help the Wish List by donating all of their old items, which would help fund the Wish List to buy kids new items that they can afford. Judith M. Heldberg, Director of Child Development Center, and Kristina Brower work with babies and children. The Business Department asked the Child Development Center to come up with a wish list of things that could be used to offset state funding. Outside people wanted to help support the Wish List. The Wish List is when people clean their houses of old boxes, towels, clothes, etc., that they have no use for and would like to get rid of or recycle. The staff on the Wish List would contact the donors, make arrangements, and schedule a time to come and pick up items. The items are then collected and used to make money as well as save money for the Wish List. The Child Development Center is on a state contract and low budget. Every child who is on a state contract will be paid $37.12 per day by the state which is low for the child and high for the state. A child costs about $75/day, babies around $150/day, which is very expensive. Items donated from the outside would really help the wish list. It is just a way to supplement their supplies and keep their supply budget in line. When asked who would benefit from the wish list, Brower said, “Children would benefit the most from the Wish List because they would have a greater variety of things to play with and the people would also benefit by cleaning their houses and getting rid of old things that accumulates into junk”

“You would think it would be a burden on the school by people bringing in their old and recycled items” said Heldburg. Both the Business and Cosmetology departments gave the largest of all donations. When donations arrive and are put on the tables everyone from different departments get excited, runs, and yells, “I need this, we need that,” and everyone’s needs are satisfied. Whatever is left over is taken to an outside shed and storage that can hold items that can be used for next year. The Wish List doesn’t always have the money to go out and purchase expensive materials to make things with for the children. They also like the recycled items for kids where they could use the materials to make something out of them. The Wish List is definitely a source that everyone can tap into. The children and staff can benefit from our giving that will help the entire wish list program. Collecting old and recycled items would save tons of money on the demands that is brought on children and babies, therefore making things affordable for them to have. Skyline Child Development Center Wish List is located in Bldg. 16 and can be reached at (650) 738-7070.