Enfield Top Business Nominee: Educational Resources for Children

ENFIELD, CT — Recently, Enfield Patch asked readers to nominate their favorite local business for Business of the Year. Many Enfield businesses have managed to navigate the turbulence of 2020 with steadfast determination and an unwavering commitment to the clients they serve.

Educational Resources for Children, Inc. has provided out-of-school time academic, enrichment, and recreational activities for Enfield children and their families since 1994. After humble beginnings and bouncing around several home bases over the past 20 years, the organization has grown tremendously, and has settled into Suite 200 at the Enfield Office Suites at 174 South Rd.

According to Marketing & Social Media Coordinator Danielle Flaherty, "Our services include Before and After School programs, summer camp, community events, free dinners and more throughout the school year and summer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ERfC adapted by distributing free meals during the summer and holding a free virtual academic and enrichment summer program for students in grades K-8 to join and have fun, interact with peers, and learn. During the new school year, ERfC continued to offer the before and after school programs and added an additional full-day program to provide in-person assistance with remote learning. This program, called the Distance Learning Center (DLC) is held at the Enfield Annex and allows students in grades K-8 to have assistance with teacher-led remote classes in a safe, supervised environment. Activities are also offered throughout the day to keep students moving, learning, and having fun with a small group of peers and ERfC staff while their parents/guardians work."

Grades 3-5 Curriculum Coordinator Rebecca Donor said, "This company has adapted in more ways than one in order to best serve the Enfield community and their children. I can't tell you how many families have thanked us for staying open when schools closed. Not only does staying open benefit students and families, it also benefits staff. Most of the ERfC staff are local and from Enfield. This gives them jobs while most companies in the state closed their doors, leaving employees struggling."

A number of clients raved about the programs and staff. Here are some excerpts.

• "I am a single mom who is also an essential employee at a primary care office in Enfield. I don’t know how I would’ve possibly been able to hold my job between the hybrid learning and now full remote learning without the ERFC full day distance program. I am so thankful for this program and the wonderful staff who run it. It keeps my daughter engaged and with people all day, while she had been mainly at home prior to the program, which was causing a huge impact on her mental health. She is now happier that she’s out and about every day in a safe environment for wonderful teachers. They have helped her to catch up on work that she had fallen behind in." - Tammy Rodriguez
• "The best care for my son. After school, summer camp and now with the distance learning center. Caring staff!" - Pamela McAllister

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