Local Families, Au Pairs Help Support Children in Need

Fairfax County Local Childcare Coordinators (LCCs) Dariece Rau, Kimberly Nelson, Christine Bodziak, Shawna Levins, Cinzia Putzeys and Debora Smith, along with area au pairs and their host families, enjoyed cool refreshing yogurt and other treats at Yolly Molly Café in Fairfax to support Cultural Care’s Kids First Foundation Sunday, Aug. 4.

The families and au pairs came from Fairfax, Clifton, Centreville, Fairfax Station and Springfield, all with a mind to support child advocacy groups and other non-profits benefiting children in need worldwide. Currently, Kids First supports: Share Our Strength, one of America’s leading not-for-profit organizations whose mission is to end childhood hunger; Jeevitha Anathashrama, an orphanage in India; and Dom Dietzcka, an orphanage in Poland.

Yolly Molly provided the setting and donated 15 percent of all sales between 1-5 p.m. that day to benefit Kids First. In total, over $100 was raised which will be matched 100 percent by Cultural Care Au Pair to support Kids First. Yolly Molly will continue the support through Aug. 25 by continuing to collect donations for Kids First.

As a local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair, Rau and her fellow LCCs support au pairs in the area, as well as their host families, ensuring that the entire family has a positive experience. The program, regulated by the U.S. Department of State, allows qualified young people with proven experience to live in the United States for one year providing childcare for local families, while taking college courses and experiencing American culture first hand.

To become involved with the Kids First program or to learn more about hosting an au pair in your home, call Rau at 703-944-3907, or visit Kids First online culturalcarekidsfirst.org.