Note from the Directors

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves; we are Patricia Jensen DePan and William D. DePan. We both have lived in this area all of our lives and graduated from Lake Shore Central. We are married (32 years!) and have raised our four children here. Our three grandchildren are also being raised in this magnificent community.

Care-A-Lot was founded in 1985 by Pat. It was as 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 112 children but due to a desire for small group size, care for approximately 70 children.

Patricia is a graduate of Empire State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She also completed course work at Bryant and Stratton Business College and her Early Childhood training at ECC City Campus. She is certified in CPR and First Aid, and Child Abuse and Maltreatment Reporting. She has been a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children for fifteen years and successfully lead the center to become accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs four years ago.

William joined the organization (officially) June of 2002, as the Assistant Director in charge of office management. He has a degree in Business and Economics, and certification in Red Cross CPR and First Aid. He has also attended the last two National Conventions for the National Association for the Education of Young Children and Director’s Training Seminar.

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!

Atina Horning is the Director of our Derby center. Atina came on board when we decided to open our forth site and she is doing a fantastic job.

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 we’ll be happy to show you around and introduce you to our wonderful staff of teachers!