The Regina Early Learning Centre has been given a new passenger van, thanks to an anonymous donor.

Executive Director of the ELC, Mary Ann McGrath says that the school is incredibly thankful for the donation.

“It’s a really wonderful donation,” said McGrath. “It will mean that we have transportation for 24 preschool children to attend the preschool program in the fall of 2020 and for many years to come.”

McGrath says without the van, many of the children wouldn’t be able to participate in any kind of preschool program.

She says that to receive such a big donation during the pandemic means that much more.

“It does say that there are people in our community that recognize that in these hard times, it’s more important than ever to recognize the needs of young children, and to support families, in order to really invest in the education and the success of children,” said McGrath.

The 15- passenger van was unveiled to kids, and their parents, during a parade on Wednesday, which McGrath says, brought a lot of smiles.

She adds that the pandemic has hit preschools relatively hard, and it’s important to try and keep them afloat.

“As we recover, we need to more than ever make sure that we have these preventative and early programs, so that everyone has the chance to help rebuild a small community in Saskatchewan, and Regina.”

The van donation as made possible by the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation.