DeWitt child‑care owner asks town for help to open free summer program

Charlotte White, owner of Seeing White Child Care in DuBois, told the DeWitt Town Board she plans to run a free daycare for children in the James Hill, Fayetteville‑Manlius and East Syracuse Manor school districts and asked town officials and residents for immediate help.

“We don't believe that no child should have to suffer due to financial straits,” White said, and described contacting local banks, Home Depot and other businesses for support. She said she has secured some in‑kind help — security cameras and vehicle support — but needs a cross‑barrier fence inside her yard to safely accept children with disabilities. White told the board she cannot run a GoFundMe because she is a New York State–licensed child care provider and that some local assistance programs excluded her because of zip‑code restrictions.

White asked the board and neighbors to help with items including t‑shirts, gas cards and food, and to connect her with anyone who can install the fence before July 9. She said she had reached out to local contacts and lenders for a line of credit and that some banks indicated willingness to help if coordinated locally.

Board members who spoke after the comment encouraged White to follow up with staff and volunteers; a board member offered to send a contact and to text her the next day. The board did not make a formal commitment of funds during the meeting.