Kristina Valdez, Executive Director of Along the Way, discussed the non-profit serving single mothers in Bucks and Montgomery counties with after-hours childcare and other services to allow them to work and pursue their education.  She described the child-care crisis in the US – child care costs can take up 21% of a two-parent monthly income, for single mothers it’s 63%.   41% of children born in PA are born to single mothers, 2 in 3 female headed households are what she described these parents as ALICE –  Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.  A single mother without child care cannot work, and if she can’t work, then she can’t get out of poverty.   
Lack of child care can keep a woman from job choices and education, preventing her from getting ahead, she described their programs – free reliable, trustworthy childcare– over 8,000 hours –  from vetted, paid care providers, and career/job counseling.   Along the Way is funded through grants and donations, as well as fund-raisers including a Golf Outing Sept 20 in Harleysville at Lederach-top 10 course to play in PA.  For information visit alongtheway.org