Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A 1912 church has a new purpose in Garfield. The downstairs of the Garfield United Methodist Church is just about to become the Seedlings Child Care Center.
In a joint effort with the Garfield school board, the non-profit operation aims to bring in Garfield kids who have had to go to other towns for child care. This includes a significant number who now take school transportation to Palouse for this purpose.
“That was a lot of bussing for little kids,” said the Rev. Peggy Ray, pastor of the church and chair of the Seedlings board. “So there was a real felt need for child care in the community.”
The effort began last summer with the Garfield school board. Seedlings was established as a non-profit in August and a business plan was presented to the school board in December.
The contract was signed with the school district in February, assigning $18,000 in school funds to the project.
“The goal is in a year or two for it to be standing on its own,” said Garfield Superintendent Zane Wells. “That may or may not happen. I don’t know. That’s the plan.”
Fundraising efforts soon began with a bake sale, a silent auction and an internet raffle. Private contributions came in as well.
Renstrom Homes was named contractor and renovations included installation of a sprinkler system and fire alarms, conversion of a window to an exit door and an array of new windows, electrical outlets and fixtures.
In addition, bathrooms were improved and a storage area was converted into an office.
A playground fence is slated to be built next.
Ray said that she hopes to be licensed for 24 kids, from infants to fifth-grade level.
Seedlings’ first license will be temporary, for 60 days, with a full license given after state inspection.
There will be an open house March 27, 28 and 29.
“There is excitement but it’s still very amorphous,” said Ray.
“We view it as a community service and certainly something we could use here,” said Wells.
“Daycare is a big issue for young families these days, and Seedlings is a good thing for Garfield and a good thing for the Garfield school district.”
Seedlings will begin with two full-time teachers and a part-time director. Interviews for teachers began Monday.
It will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The expansive, downstairs space in the church is used on a non-exclusive rental contract, so the rooms will continue to be available for funerals, soup dinners and Sunday school.
Ray previously started a related operation in Pullman. P.S. I Love You, a program for pre-school parents and their children, has been running for 20 years at Simpson United Methodist Church.
Before becoming pastor at Garfield Methodist, Ray spent 27 years at WSU as a professor of Human Development.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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