R'Club Community Pride at Gateway

This center is not concerned with the safety of children & does not empathize with single parents. My experience is based on me, a single parent, dropping off a child for a friend because she had an early morning appointment. Upon arrival, I had to ring the doorbell twice before someone would come open it. Once opened, I explain that I am doing a drop-off as a favor. Staff told me that my 4 yr old (wearing a mask) could not enter the building since she does not attend the center. Given that it was 40 degrees outside, I asked if she could stand at the door waiting. With attitude, I was told that my child could not enter the building and that I had to leave her outside (alone). Obviously, this was not an option for me. With disgust I reiterated that my instructions are to leave a child outside alone in the cold and asked how is that safe. The lady closest to the door replied “figure it out” pointed to my daughter and said “she is not allowed in this building”, pointed to the child I was dropping off and said “or you will have to take her back with you”. Thankfully, another staff offered to wait outside in the cold with my daughter. While inside, the staff taking temperatures asked her co-worker (one with attitude) who was going to receive the child since it was her teacher that was outside. A sarcastic response/tone of “you are” was given. Yes, this virus is serious. I didn’t attempt to take my child into their facility without a mask. What if I was riding the bus? What if I had felt pressured to follow the unsafe instructions only to return to find my child is missing or had been hit by a passing car? United Way should be ashamed to be associated with a facility that treats parents & children in this manner.