NOTTINGHAM, MD—In response to the coronavirus outbreak, The Maryland School for the Blind (MSB) will open a daycare center to provide childcare services to Maryland’s first responders and essential personnel beginning Monday, March 30.

MSB’s Pre-School and Early Learning Center, located on the school’s campus at 3501Taylor Avenue in northeast Baltimore, will be used for the daycare center which will be open Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 6:30 pm. This service, for children ages 4-12, will be offered at no cost to Maryland’s first responders and essential personnel who are helping to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and will be staffed by MSB employees.

In accordance with the state mandate by Governor Hogan, the school has been closed since March 16, but was asked by Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Karen Salmon, if it would consider the use of the campus for a daycare for the state’s first responders. “I have absolutely no question about whether we should offer our campus to help in fighting this pandemic,” said MSB Superintendent W. Robert Hair. “What worries me is what could happen to the greater Maryland community if our first responders, our nurses, doctors, medical techs, police and firefighters, are not able to do their jobs due to a lack of childcare. This is a chance for MSB to stand with our first responders, for us to participate in helping in this crisis, to give of our resources, our individual service for the greater good – a chance to do what’s right.”

MSB staff were given the opportunity to volunteer for this special assignment with 86 employees expressing interest. “I truly admire our MSB staff who have stepped up to volunteer to help in this unprecedented crisis. That by itself is an act of a true hero,” said Hair.

For more information visit https://www.marylandschoolfortheblind.org/childcare-center-for-maryland-emergency-and-essential-personnel/.