Romelia Macias, center, with her children, Brandon and Melissa, who attend the Grant YWCA Child Care Center in San Jose.

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THE WISH: SPORTS EQUIPMENT, BOOKS, CHAIRS, AND SUPPLIES

An alternative for latch-key children

as soon as 7-year-old Melissa runs through the door of the child care center, she's sprawled out on the floor with her friends, drawing houses and flowers with crayons and markers. They do lots of stuff like this at the center, Melissa and her friends explain. Like make things with beads, or play dollhouse, or, their personal favorite, jump rope.

They feel at home at the Grant YWCA Child Care Center in San Jose -- and that's the whole idea, because they're at the center a lot. Parents struggling to survive on low incomes in a sky-high housing market depend on the center, which provides sliding-scale fees for both before- and after-school care. Without it, many parents might have to quit their jobs or leave their kids home alone.

``It helps out a lot,'' says Melissa's mom, Romelia Macias, whose son Brandon, 10, also attends the center after school. ``Especially if you're a single parent. There's no worries.''

Romelia lost her previous job when the electronics plant she worked for closed. Five months ago, she started a temporary job working quality control at another electronics firm. She feels under constant pressure not to miss work if she wants to keep working. ``I feel lucky to have a job. A few of my friends are still unemployed,'' she says. ``That's scary.''

The center, which serves 33 families with kids ages 6 weeks to 12 years, is next door to a library and across the playground from Grant Academy school. It provides cooking projects once a week, and homework help daily. Funds are tight for equipment and supplies. The center could use books ($10 each) (8A), sturdy but comfy chairs ($79 each) (8B), beanbag chairs ($39 each) (8C) and sports equipment ($300) (8D). An activity rug ($350) (8E) would warm up the floor. Gift certificates at a teachers supply store ($25 each) (8F) would allow the center to stock up on art supplies. Two new computers ($800 each) (8G) would greatly assist the older kids with their homework.

The center also provides care for kids over the summer and during school holidays. But not when they're sick.

``When the kids are sick, I have to stay home,'' Romelia says. ``That's when the worries come.''