Sheryl Collins can't say enough about the kids and adults she works with twice a week.

She runs the Parent's Day Out program at Fayetteville United Methodist Church and the smile she wears shows that she finds sheer joy in doing it.

The program is an outreach to the community, she says. It allows parents both working and non-working to run errands or work part-time without the cost of daycare and with the security of knowing their children are in a safe place.

"To know you can leave your child somewhere in this day and time, especially a Christian environment, and not have to worry is a great feeling," said Collins.

Several churches in Fayette County offer a Parent's Day Out program and it isn't limited to church membership. It is a ministry in many ways simply because it allows any person from the community to take care of necessary things without "dragging along their poor children," said Collins.

"It's really more a ministry to the parents," Collins said.

The Fayette Methodist Church program costs $7 a day and it runs from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays for 1 to 4 year olds.

All funds pay for the hired helpers who run the program with Collins.

The program, which runs year-round, averages between 25 and 30 children a day, with approximately five adults attending at all times.

Often the program will fill to capacity as is the current Fayetteville United Methodist Church. Collins says she just recommends the other programs such as their neighbor Fayetteville First Baptist Church.

P.J. Roberts who runs the Fayetteville Christian Church's Parent's Day Out program, says that while their duties are primarily childcare, they have the time to offer children, who are often very attached to their stay-at-home moms, the lovingcare they need.

"It's a much more relaxed environment," she said. "It's safer, we use Christian videos and music and try to instill values in the children.

Roberts agrees that the program is an outreach and said that she has seen "great fellowship" come out of the program and new membership to the church through involvement in the program.

The Fayette Christian Church program operates on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. for 6 month olds to 4 year olds.

The children play games, do arts and crafts, listen to books and music.

"We really give them a lot of individual attention," said Collins. "The children love it, they call it school. It give them something to talk about when they get home, especially those with older siblings who are in school."

Other churches who offer the Parent's Day Out program include New Hope Baptist Church, North Fayette United Methodist Church, Bethany United Methodist Church, Kenwood Baptist Church and more.