KeikiSitters Service Up And Running

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Kathy Custer’s years of babysitting experience helped her establish a new service matching families with qualified sitters. Photos from Kathy Custer.

After nine months of planning, KeikiSitters.com was born on March 3 as an online service helping local families find “experienced, reliable and wholesome” sitters for their children, pets, home and elders.

The service also helps sitters find dependable, good-natured families to work for.

This great concept is the brainchild of Kaneohe resident Kathy Custer. Herself a longtime sitter, Custer found that she was overwhelmed by the number of families who need help. She recalled putting an ad on Craig’s List sometime ago and a slew of interested families responded.

“I realized that there’s serious need for baby sitters,” she said. “And what I found after starting this company is there’s also a real need for sitters to have access to these families.”

In the two months since it began, KeikiSitters.com has collected 100 qualified sitters to choose from. All of them are required to return a clean background check and be at least 18 years of age.

“What our site is really good for is the parent who is looking for that one sitter that they really want to bond with their family, and it’s also great for back-up sitters.”

The website also offers flexibility for both families and sitters. For example, a parent can post a job - including the pay, location, description of care, etc. From there the post is sent to all the sitters, who then reply if they are interested in the job. After receiving the replies, the parent then chooses which sitter is right for them.

Kaneohe’s Kelsey McDonald (left) of KeikiSitters shares her face-painting talent with a visitor to the group’s booth at the March of Dimes ‘March for Babies’ benefit walk last month at Kapiolani Park.

“Our website was built for convenience,” Custer said, “and it’s so flexible. We are so committed that if you don’t find a sitter within the first two weeks then we will refund all the money and allow you to keep your membership.”

An annual membership is $120, or a $39 sign-up fee and $10 a month. Also, a summer discount special is being offered for $79.95 (annual dues).

For sitters, the cost is $10 for the background check and $10 to sign up.

KeikiSitters also offers services in house sitting, pet sitting, elderly care, and tutoring for children and adults.

Custer has a staff of eight that is based in Kaneohe, though the services are available islandwide. Interested families and/or sitters can visit www.KeikiSitters.com.

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