Local YMCAs offering free baby-sitting services on Election Day

PHOENIX — Busy parents who don’t think they can find supervision for their children while they head to the polls on Tuesday, think again.

YMCAs across the Valley are offering free baby-sitting services on Election Day, according to Dawn Stipe, associate executive director of the Ahwatukee Foothills Family YMCA.

“The Y knows that taking kids to the polls can add stress to busy parents and caregivers,” Stipe told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday. “So we are committed to doing our part to help remove any obstacles or barriers that parents face when it comes to voting, so we can get everyone out to the polls on Election Day.”

Stipe said it doesn’t matter whether parents are YMCA members, and it helps to register online to avoid filling out onsite paper work.

There are a few stipulations for use of the services, however.

“The time will be running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We have a maximum of four hours for care and we welcome children of all ages. We just ask that they are potty-trained,” Stipe said.

Some people in the Valley might remember this service from a past election.

“We’ve done it before, we’ve done it for the election in 2016,” Stipe said.

There will be activities provided for the kids, including an opportunity for kids to get into the voting spirit themselves.

“We will take care of the kids for you and make sure they can enjoy some arts and crafts,” Stipe said. “We will be having our own election for the kids where they’ll vote on their favorite candy or cartoon character.”

More information on participating YMCAs can be found on their website.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Griselda Zetino contributed to this report.

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