Purchased by business owner, Shannon Burke in 2000, Mehlville Activity Center (MAC) is a safe and affordable childcare center in St. Louis, MO.

It offers day care services for ages 6 weeks to 12 years, and allows high schoolers to volunteer and work alongside other employees.

“People call and ask to volunteer from high school. We interview them and make sure they will be a good fit with our children. They are not counted in the ratio numbers [must be 18 to count in ration] and always have a staff member working alongside them. Must be a high schooler,” said Burke when asked about the volunteering policy.

The ratio numbers are the amount of teachers that must be present in the building because of the amount of children there. For example; for ages zero to two, if there are 4 kids there must be one teacher, 8 two year olds requires one teacher, 10 three to five year olds means one teacher must be present, and 16 five to twelve year olds requires one teacher as well.

Burke also stated that when reviewing potential volunteers, she looks for these three qualities: dependability, lovingness, and patience.

Ashlea Alexander, a MAC staff member, stated that, “ volunteers should have leadership, communication [skills], and a passion for children.”

“People are always welcome to volunteer,” said Burke.

Volunteers’ main jobs are to occupy the children with games and play time. They read books, sing songs, dance, and play with the children while being supervised by current MAC employees.

MAC provides affordable childcare as well as before and after school care. The preschool program runs from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M, and includes breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack for the attending children. The daycare  is open from 6 A.M. to 9 P.M., Monday through Friday.

“I am licensed for 60 kids. My goal is to help families find affordable care for their children,” stated Burke.

To set up a consultation you can call their office at (314)842-2240, or visit the business located at 5183 Southmoor Hill Rd, St. Louis, MO 63128.