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Child care center closing sparks new grassroot effort

Daily Ledger - 10/20/2018

Oct. 20--Little Lambs Learning Center closed its doors Friday, marking an end to an era.

The center started in 1982 as a one-room daycare that cared for infants, toddlers and 2-year-olds, with a capacity of 34 children.

Gretchen Jones, who started as a teacher in 1996 and later became director of the center, said the building was once the home of Abe Lincoln Grade School and New Wine School.

Jones said the business has seen many growth spurts and changes over the years.

"In 2005, we expanded the program to include 3-5-year-olds, and in 2006 we moved the 2-year-olds into a separate room giving them their own individual classroom and allowing more space for infants and toddlers," Jones wrote in a report.

"In 2015 we changed our name from Little Lambs Day Care to Little Lambs Learning Center," she continued.

The non-profit, which served 91 children through the Department of Children and Family Services, has also achieved the Silver Circle of Quality with ExceleRate Illinois, a voluntary process of national standards and evaluations.

With the growing number of low-income families in the area, the center was faced with the challenge to keep tuition low.

"Due to the state's budget cuts and the general increase in cost of living, we are supported solely by parents' tuition. We seek grants and other government resources to supplement this. However, these grants and funds have gradually decreased over the years and there is little left for major repairs," said Jones.

When the board determined the fate of the facility, many were left in tears.

Jones' daughter, Natalya, a teacher at Little Lambs, penned a note to parents sharing her feelings about saying goodbye.

"It's with a heavy heat that our last day is upon us," she wrote. "Not many of you know, but I've spent my whole life in this building. My mother, Gretchen, started working at the daycare and I started attending when I was 3 years old. I went to school here at New Wine until Jr. High. After high school I came back and worked for a year until I left for college. About a year ago, I came back to the center. I truly have loved working with your children. I hope our paths cross in the future. The end of an era."

Cindy Taylor, a teacher since 2005, said she, too, has been there since leaving college and has seen changes in the childcare business.

Beth Sasse, whose child attended Little Lambs, said when she heard the news she knew she had to do something.

"I came into the office and told them my mind was racing all night about this and we had to do something," she said.

Taylor and Sasse joined forces and came up with a new concept that is still in the early steering-committee phase.

"There is a need for early childhood care. We are encouraging the families of Little Lambs Learning Center to join us in discussion of creative solutions to this need," said Sasse, who said she envisions a co-op of childcare for the area.

The name of the group is Logan County Childcare Solutions, which has established a Facebook page.

"We plan to meet with a gentleman from Western Illinois University who works with the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs who we hope will give us answers on grant funding agencies," said Sasse.

Taylor and Sasse both agree the key component to making the new venture work is people.

"It depends on how much people want to be involved and how much their children's care means to them," said Sasse.

"We see the family as a whole unit and want to partner with the parent," said Taylor.

The two say the idea has a variety of ways for local people to solve local problems.

"If we partner with other groups in our community, we can help one another solve the problems. There are so many opportunities for collaboration," said Sasse.

Jones said she has accepted a position working with families and children in Lincoln and is excited about the new childcare concept.

"It's sad that we won't have Little Lambs, but it is also exciting to see something new rising up just like Jesus did," said Jones.

To find out more about childcare visit "Logan County Childcare Solutions" on Facebook or call Beth Sasse at (309) 868-4179 email at elizabeth@sassesapiary.com.

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