(Malvern, Iowa) – Officials with East Mills Child Care Solutions (EMCCS) say they have been working persistently since July of 2022 to raise funding to renovate a former nursing home into a high quality child care center in Malvern (905 N 2nd Ave.). EMCCS has received a $1-million grant award from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, to help make the renovation project, estimated to cost $5.3-million, possible. In honor of the generous donation, EMCCS officials says they have established the official name of the future child care center as “The Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of East Mills.”

The project will involve the renovation/repurposing of an existing facility into an 18,000 SF fully licensed childcare center. It will include 12 inclusive classrooms for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers accommodating 120-150 children. EMCCS volunteers, officials say, continue to work diligently on grant writing and fundraising efforts to meet their goal. The board remains optimistic that they can achieve their goal to open in the Fall of 2024. Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture (APMA) has been selected to collaborate with East Mills Child Care Solutions on a new childcare center.

According to The Lakin Foundation, their mission is to “ …fund programs and organizations in Southwest Iowa and Greater Omaha that help people in need overcome adversity, restore dignity and ultimately transform their lives. We empower adults, children and families to be productive and contributing citizens by providing funding within three core focus areas: Children and families; Education and training; Economic resilience.” The EMCCS project aligns with that mission through providing safe and educational childcare that will allow parents to be reliable and self-sufficient.

Steve Wild, Charles E. Lakin Foundation President, stated “Childcare centers play a vital role in any community, and their value is particularly significant in rural areas. The Lakin Foundation is proud to support the establishment of The Lakin Foundation Child Development Center of East Mills in Malvern. This center will not only provide a safe and nurturing environment for children but will also empower parents to pursue their own endeavors, secure in the knowledge that their children are receiving quality care. The Lakin Foundation is proud to be a part of this project, and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact it will have on the lives of children and families in East Mills. The Lakin Foundation’s founder, Charles E. Lakin, hails from Emerson, while his wife Florence has deep roots in Malvern, Iowa, where she was born and raised. Both the Lakin Family and the Lakin Foundation hold an unwavering dedication to the welfare of the individuals residing in Southwest Iowa. In light of this enduring commitment, the Foundation wholeheartedly believes that the childcare center will be a cherished and invaluable asset to the local community.”

Fundraising efforts remain a high priority. If you would like to join EMCCS committed volunteers, you can contact the committee at emchildcaresolutions@gmail.com or at the East Mills Child Care Solutions Facebook page to learn more. As fundraising efforts are underway, please contact emchildcaresolutions@gmail.com to make donations in support of the children in your area.

East Mills Child Care Solutions is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit made up of volunteers who are committed to working cooperatively to identify safe and reliable child care, allowing for future growth in East Mills communities.