1 /5 Karissa Schoon: -Response to "receives state funding it makes it difficult to be able to share even bibles stories with the kids without having to jump through hoops"
There is not an issue reaching the children with the word of God. First Christian Church asked parents to sign a waiver for those who wanted their children to participate. Living Hope Church has chosen not to do the same and share the word of God. Its as simple as a Waiver.
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My review is not about Living Hope’s mission to spread the word of God. This is something I will always participate in and continue to share with my children, through our own church. My review is simply the lack of compassion and support Living Hope provides for the community it resides in. Also, the less than adequate notice before eviction.
For 40-yrs, First Christian Church allowed and fully supported The Learning Tree Daycare to utilize a portion of their building. Providing daycare assistance to hundreds of children in our local community. On November 1, all parents and staff were notified that the daycare is being evicted due to the board of directors of Living Hope Church voting them out. The daycare manager was told they would be given until May 2024 but as of January 1st, the new church would no longer provide insurance or support to the daycare. Thus, forcing the daycare to speed up the shutdown to January 1st, 2024. This does not guarantee the families of childcare thru December 31st because the staff must look for new employment.
Living Hope Church mentions “a difficult situation for any church to be in especially knowing the liabilities of a daycare and because churches are not allowed to freely minister to children in state funded daycare”. Need I remind the community, it was First Christian Church that fully supported The Learning Tree Daycare being in the building for 40 years.
Living Hope, also, makes mention of the daycare being “state funded”. Giving the notion that this move will be an easy transition for the daycare. Some families, yes, are approved for state assistance. This does not mean the state pays for a new building, cost of relocation, maintaining all building code ordinances, provides daycare equipment, etc. This is a benefit to the families who need financial assistance, so they may continue to work and provide for their families.
Whatever Living Hope Church does with the additional space is their decision. The pain we are all feeling is from the lack of sufficient notice Living Hope Church has provided to The Learning Tree Daycare staff and families. This daycare has been in operation for 40-yrs, even a 2 or 6-month notice, is not a realistic timeframe. The daycare needs to find a new location, meet all building code ordinances, have visits from the state and fire marshal, provide daycare assistance to current children while relocating and so much more. Not to mention the holiday seasons and frigid weather going against their search. A minimum of 1-year would have been a more understanding and compassionate gesture to all.
This daycare is needed in our community! If you research state daycare providers, there are only SEVEN in Watseka that accept 0 to 12 years. These providers offer childcare in their homes which reduces the number of children they can accommodate (adults to child ratio). Their hours of operation are limited and , when sick/unavailable, this impacts the parents attendance at their own jobs. The Learning Tree Daycare roughly has 28 to 36 children attending ranging from 6-wks to 5-yrs. If this daycare was not essential in our community, how could they have maintained their headcount for 40-yrs? Now, all these children are being forced out and parents rush to find safe, reliable care. This is unacceptable in our small community. Many families risk losing their jobs, due to lack of childcare facilities.
I will continue to pray for the daycare staff and all families that are being impacted. I will also pray for the board of directors who made this hurtful decision to negatively impact so many families in our community.
