AMARILLO, TX -- Last year in Canyon and Amarillo, The United Way helped about three thousand children with scholarships for daycare or after school care.

The purpose is so their parents could go to work, which in turn helps reduce the number of families living in poverty.

In Amarillo, the YMCA works alongside The United Way to improve access to quality and affordable childcare.

Candace Stoddard, Midtown YMCA Childcare Director, says these scholarships allow families in need to have one less thing to worry about.

"They have bills to pay, they have other things that they have to make sure are paid for, without having to worry about where their children are going to be and that they're going to be safe."

Stoddard says if the kids are not in childcare, then they are more than likely walking alone and staying home by themselves, and safety is one of their top priorities.

"If they have childcare then they're in a safe environment. Parents know that we're picking up their kids from school, they know that we're dropping them off here with teachers that care about them."

However, providing a safe place isn't the only thing the scholarships provide -- they also provide children with nutrition.

"They help provide our food, without the food parents would have to bring their lunches. Here they're giving these kids a hot breakfast, a hot lunch and a nice afternoon snack."

She also says more education increases the chances of building financial stability.

"It's very important that we're here to help these children, and make sure they get an education, which we help provide them so that the poverty level goes down instead of up."

Our expert adds that they provide opportunities that many places don't offer.

"We have sports for the children, our childcare goes swimming once a week from kindergarten through fifth, we take them on arts field trips, and they're just very involved in the community outside of the YMCA."

From adolescence to adulthood the bond that's created here is more than just a friendship.

"Some of these people have grown up with us since the time they were six weeks old and we are a family"

Our local United Way's overhead remains less than twelve percent due in large part to the more than 750 volunteers that provide endless hours of help.