Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- A trip to JCPenney can help support the local YMCA.

From Saturday to April 6, shoppers at the store's Mall of Georgia location can roundup their purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the J.M. Tull-Gwinnett Family YMCA, which is located in Lawrenceville.

The store has partnered with the community facility to help local kids with after-school programs that foster academic, physical and social development, a press release said.

"The availability of quality, affordable after-school programs continues to be an important community objective to meet the needs of working families," said YMCA Executive Director Greg Stewart. "The support of JCPenney customers will make it possible for more local youth to Lovin, participate in the YMCA's licensed after-school programs, which includes students from Benefield, Cooper, Grayson, Mulberry, Cedar Hill, Craig, Holt, Pharr, Starling and Simonton elementary schools."

A 2009 report commissioned by JCPenney Afterschool found that a quarter of schoolchildren are on their own between 3 and 6 p.m. each day.