This summer in Lorain, we are so excited to work with Michelle Brooks over at Little Hearts Daycare. When we first met Michelle and she shared her vision for the playground she imagined for the kids at her daycare- we knew we just had to get on board! We asked Michelle to teach us a little bit about her daycare, here is what she said:
Share a little bit about your daycare. How does it serve the community of Lorain?
This daycare really has been able to impact my community in multiple ways. Through opening the daycare, we were able to provide 10 employees a steady, full time income. Over the past year that we have been open we also have been able to serve 50+ children and their families by creating a safe space for learning. As we see steady growth in our registration numbers, we are affirmed that our community is in need for a daycare like ours. Our kids range in age from 6 weeks-12 years old. We are also able to offer extended hours from 5:30am-7:30pm to accommodate many different work schedules as well as offer transportation to bring the children to and from the building.
Share a little bit about your passion behind your daycare. Why are you so passionate about this place?
I have been working with children since I was 14 at my first job as a Day Camp Counselor at the YMCA. As an adult I continued to work with children through my position at Head Start, which I stayed at for over 20 years. Caring for kids has always been my passion. Throughout my entire life, I have never had a thought of another type of career. The adventure of opening Little Hearts began in 2002 when I opened my in- home daycare. As the need was outgrowing my space, I decided to branch off and open up in a larger space. We have been at this location for a little over 1 year.
Why are you excited to invest in a playground for the kids at your center? How will it impact them?
Around here there aren’t really any parks within walking distance for kids at the daycare. I am very excited that they will have their own space to come and play every day. With this playground we will be able to incorporate exercise into our daily routine here at Little Hearts. This will help the children to learn to stay active and healthy everyday.
What are you looking forward to most about the work taking place this summer?
I’m excited that the Little Hearts kids will be involved in the whole process. For them, they will get to witness what it looks like to build something from the ground up. I especially am looking forward to its completion when the kids are able to take ownership of the park as their own. I am also eager to see how the Next Step teams will be able to set an example as role models for the younger kids at our center.
Join us in praying for Michelle, her employees, the 50 kids and their families represented at Little Hearts, as well as the work that will take place this summer.
