Note from the Directors

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves; we are Patricia Jensen DePan and William D. DePan. We have both lived in this area all of our lives and graduated from Lake Shore Central. We are married (35 years!) and have raised our four children here. Our four grandchildren are also being raised in this magnificent community.

Patricia is a graduate of Empire State College with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. She also completed course work at Bryant and Stratton Business College and her Early Childhood training at ECC City Campus. Patricia focuses most of her energy on helping the teachers and overseeing curriculum. William joined the organization (officially) June of 2002. He has a degree in Business and Economics so he is a great help in the office, and he can fix practically anything around the centers.

Care-A-Lot was founded in 1985 by Pat. It was a small Day Care Center situated on the corner of Beach Road and Route 5. We quickly outgrew that building and built our current 6000 square foot center at 7821 Erie Road. We are licensed for 85 children at this location. Miss Atina is our Director at the Derby site and a big help in our home office.

Together we decided to expand our services and opened a second location at 4350 Seneca Street, West Seneca on May 21, 2003. This center was licensed for up to 45 two through five year olds. In 2007, we redesigned a building at 2207 Union Road and licensed it for 60 children age six weeks to twelve years old. Miss Jessica, daughter of Pat and Bill and also a certified teacher, is the Director of this program and is doing a wonderful job!

Our Lakeview location opened August 23, 2003 to serve 32 children age 6 weeks to 5 years old. This building is located just west of the light at the Old Lakeshore cut off and was built as a single family home. In the 1990s it was converted to a doctors office and finally we completed the rezoning and licensing necessary to make it a daycare center. Miss Stacey, eldest daughter of Bill and Pat with 18 years of experience in child care, is the Director of this center. Stop in and she will be happy to take good care of you!

Just when we thought we were finished expanding, we received an SOS call from Childtime in Grand Island! Childtime was leaving the Island and several families would no longer have childcare. On April 22, 2005 this site opened as Care-A-Lot Grand Island licensed to serve 87 children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Miss Renee who was an assistant director at Childtime has taken the reigns and become our Director at this center. She is very knowledgable and will be happy to answer your questions. Welcome to the family!

We welcome you to visit any of our programs. We are open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Give us a call and weÕll be happy to show you around and introduce you to our wonderful staff of teachers!