Page 79 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2018- Online Magazine

HONORING J.T. & MARGARET

T ALKINGT ON

The Talkingtons:

CARING FOR LUBBOCK’S

LITTLES

BY LENA SCAFF

The generosity of J.T. and Margaret Talkington toward Early
Learning Centers of Lubbock and the young children served by
this agency is staggering. The Talkingtons saw the value that a
quality early childhood education has on the entire community
and generously supported Early Learning Centers in many ways.

• In 2007, the Talkingtons began providing • The Talkington Foundation replaced several heating
scholarship funding to numerous families. Early and air conditioning units at the centers and installed
Learning Centers provides childcare based on the new carpet at the administrative offices.
household income of each family, on a sliding fee
scale. To ensure that all parents have affordable • In 2015, the Talkington Foundation helped replace
childcare, the Talkington scholarship helps lower those and/or repair the roofs at Guadalupe, Talkington, Vanda
fees another $30 a week, ensuring that each child has and Carver Early Learning Centers.
access to quality childcare, regardless of their family’s
financial background. In addition to the financial generosity, ELC’s administrators
were fortunate to enjoy
• Taking eight to ten infants outside each day can be the generosity of Margaret
very tricky. The Talkingtons helped by providing Bye Talkington’s companionship
Bye Baby Buggies that can hold four to six infants, each periodically. Visiting Mrs.
strapped in his or her own seat. Taking the infants on Talkington in her home on
walks has become a much more enjoyable experience several occasions, she was
for everyone involved. always so warm and welcoming.
She shared stories of her travels
• Beginning in 2010, the Talkingtons were while shopping for Margaret’s
instrumental in funding most of the cost for renovating and about her beloved J.T.
four of the Early Learning Centers. Guadalupe, Thanks to J.T. and Margaret
Talkington, Vanda and Carver Early Learning Centers Talkington’s generosity, Early
were each completely and professionally repainted, Learning Centers has been able
re-carpeted, retiled and restocked with new children’s to keep the focus on educating
sinks and toilets. When it came time to renovate the and nurturing young children
last center, asbestos was discovered, so the entire and their families for successful
center had to be abated. This resulted in the entire futures.
building being stripped down to the studs and built
back up from there. In December 2010, Early Learning
Centers renamed the center at 2714 Erskine the J.T. and
Margaret Talkington Early Learning Center, to show
their appreciation for all the Talkingtons had done.

• In 2013, Talkington Foundation funds replaced four
stoves and ovens at the centers. These units had been
purchased 25+ years prior and were starting to have
some costly problems.

Lubbock Senior Link 79