Healthcare workers and first responders such as policemen, firefighters and EMT are faced with both the gravity of the current health crisis and the overwhelming demand for their expertise during the coronavirus outbreak. Additionally, they have the same everyday concerns, needs and responsibilities every other family in America has right now—childcare, homeschooling, grocery shopping, paying bills and keeping everyone healthy with social distancing.

The Mark Spain Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Mark Spain Real Estate, saw the potential to help. After all, Mark Spain Real Estate was built by focusing on people and maintains a core value of leading with a servant’s heart which guides the company’s daily business.

Mark Spain Real Estate has a long affiliation with the YMCA and annually fundraises to provide children access to programs including summer camp, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. When Mark Spain learned of the YMCA’s efforts to activate its branch locations to provide childcare for healthcare workers and emergency responders on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis, Spain knew his company had to be involved and was grateful for the opportunity to serve.

As such, he redirected the efforts of the Mark Spain Foundation to ensure the company continued to serve the community and make a difference in this time of need by helping to provide a much-needed servicge. The FirstResponderChildcare.org site went live this week to provide more than 1,000 children of first responders and healthcare workers access to daily childcare.

“During this unprecedented time in our nation, it’s important we care for the people who are taking care of us,” explained Mark Spain. “First responders and healthcare workers are fighting so hard to keep everyone safe. They should not have to worry about who will take care of their children while doing this life-saving work.”

The YMCA of the Triangle partnered with area hospitals to safely transition YMCA branch locations to deliver this childcare. Each center is designed to serve children, grades K-8, and will be open extended hours, Monday-Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. to support caregivers’ needs.

Based on CDC guidelines for social distancing, children are in groups of no more than 10. The YMCA partnered with local hospital systems, health officials and the CDC to implement strict safety standards at each location to check for symptoms and monitor temperatures of all participants. Temperatures of children, staff and parents/guardians are taken daily at both drop-off and pick-up. Frequent handwashing of everyone involved is routine procedure. Equipment and touchpoints are wiped down throughout the day and childcare locations are cleaned nightly.

“The YMCA of the Triangle is doing today, what we’ve done for 160 years – boldly meeting pressing and challenging community needs head-on. When this crisis began, we immediately adapted our services to support those on the front lines of the COVID-19 fight,” explained President and CEO of the YMCA of the Triangle Doug McMillan. “The most critical among these programs is YMCA Camp Hope – providing childcare for essential personnel across the Triangle. But we wouldn’t be able to do this without the strong support of our members, donors and community partners like Mark Spain Real Estate.”

With a cost of $25 a day per child, funds are needed to help defray the program’s costs. Mark Spain Real Estate is fundraising to provide childcare for more than 1,000 children. By reaching its fundraising goal, Mark Spain Real Estate and the YMCA will, in turn, help local hospitals stay fully staffed in their efforts to protect and care for our communities.

“These parents are heroes in our community who deserve our help,” said Mark Spain, whose firm is also fundraising to help a similar YMCA first responders childcare program in metro Atlanta.

The YMCA has mobilized its network, facilities and partners to create and facilitate a fun and safe place for these children to grow and engage daily during this time. To register children for the program, visit https://www.ymcatriangle.org/essential.

There are currently five YMCA childcare sites in greater Raleigh as well as a YMCA-run childcare facility at River Dell Elementary in Clayton, NC. Collectively known as YMCA Camp Hope, all locations are located near hospitals and other medical facilities, from downtown Raleigh to Chapel Hill to Cary, NC. The YMCA of The Triangle is prepared to add more locations to expand the program, if and when the need arises.

To make a donation to support these community heroes, visit www.FirstResponderChildcare.org.

About Mark Spain Real Estate (MSRE):
Mark Spain Real Estate is the most trusted name in real estate, earning more 5-star reviews than any other real estate company in the United States. It has earned the No. 1 real estate team in America honor for closed transactions the last two consecutive years, and the company has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America for four years straight. MSRE’s mobile site design took top honors in 2019, being named the No. 1 Mobile Website in real estate by REAL Trends. MarkSpain.com also earned the No. 8 spot in the Top 10 Overall Websites.

As the leader of such a productive team with cutting edge ideas like its innovative website, Guaranteed Offer program and extensive marketing, Mark Spain was named to the inaugural list of 2019 REAL Trends Game Changers. This list of 50 people who have the potential to change the game of real estate in the coming year, included such honorees as: Gary Keller, co-founder and CEO of Keller Williams International, as well as the CEOs of RE/MAX International, Zillow, Coldwell Banker and HomeServices of America.