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Building Budgeting Prowess, Boosting Affordability

  • catherinefelegi4
  • 4 days ago
  • 2 min read

United In Care home-based child care provider Jenny Kok
United In Care home-based child care provider Jenny Kok

As the sole proprietor of Jenny’s Family Child Care, Jenny Kok is both the provider and finance department. Caring came naturally to her, and while she was skilled in finance, United In Care was able to give her business a boost.


“I was very old school. Everything was in a book. Now, I am learning all these new things. It’s a good thing, all the new technology,” Jenny said.


United In Care taught her computer skills to help her budget rather than rely on pen and paper. Combined with her ability to purchase goods in bulk and use coupons, Jenny was able to run her child care program more efficiently. When she needed to fence in her backyard playground to meet New Jersey’s quality standards, United In Care helped her identify capital improvement grants, alleviating some of the cost burden.


“I feel like I am very professional now. I’m not a babysitter – I am a teacher," said Jenny.


Elizabeth V., whose children attend Jenny’s program, also benefit from United In Care. While Elizabeth earns above minimum wage as a casework at the domestic violence agency, the state’s high cost of living means she struggles. Still, she was just above the income level to qualify for subsidy. That was when Jenny told her about United In Care.


“If I didn’t have United In Care, I probably would either leave the area to live near family, or try to be a stay-at-home mom, which would have made the whole situation worse. But I wouldn’t have been able to afford child care and working,” said Elizabeth.

Now, Elizabeth no longer needs to worry about where to cut costs each month to make ends meet.


Thanks to United In Care donors, Elizabeth can afford to continue helping others while knowing her children are being cared for. "I appreciate [the United In Care donors] for the support because obviously, donors are what any organization move… They definitely make a difference."


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MEET ALICE

ALICE   is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and represents the growing number of families who are unable to afford the basics of housing, food, child care, health care, technology, and transportation. These workers often struggle to keep their own households from financial ruin, while keeping our local economies running.

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