As an early childhood educator, member of the EMCCS board, and parent of a 4 year old and 2 year old, I know the importance of quality childcare and the struggle to find it. I have lived in Malvern for 7 years and commute to Omaha for work. My wife and I have used a combination of child care centers and in-home providers to care for our children. We have been on waitlists at multiple locations and have experienced the stress of being forced to take time off work due to the lack of child care. Additionally, the daycare our oldest went to was 45 minutes from our house. When The Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of East Mills opens, not only will our children benefit from the programming, but so will our community. Any amount donated to help this project move forward would be greatly appreciated!