Big dilemma, great solution

Greenfield leaders from a variety of groups say they have found a solution to a major community challenge for the upcoming summer that not only affects one community but a whole area.

After Sunshine Daycare announced earlier this school year that it would no longer accept enrollments from school-age children after May, and as numerous in-home daycare providers have done the same, several individuals began working to find childcare options for that age group.

More than 90 families responded to a survey earlier this winter about childcare needs. Those responses showed that more than 52% need care for children ages 5-12, and the main barrier (56.4%) to finding that care is a lack of opportunities in the area. More than 75% said they need care throughout the summer.

Adair County Healthy Connections, the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation and other local leaders identified a potential solution in the Boys and Girls Club of Central Southwest Iowa, which has operated a successful location in Adair since 2002. The organization is led by Executive Director Heather Schneider.

Jennifer Garside, who serves on several community organizations in Greenfield, including the community foundation and Healthy Connections, said the idea of bringing a Boys and Girls Club location to Greenfield had been considered before.

“When I served on the fitness center board, we talked about starting a chapter here, but it never came to fruition,” Garside said. “COVID happened, things shut down and we never really readdressed it after things opened back up. When people don’t know where else to go, they tend to ask if the Foundation can do something about this.”

That renewed interest helped move the effort forward, Garside said, adding that community response has been strong.

The Boys and Girls Club of Central Southwest Iowa will open a Greenfield location, with a specific facility still to be determined. The target opening date is June 1. One-time membership rates have been set at $300 for June 1-Aug. 7.

“They’ve been great and have been meeting with us,” Garside said.

Initially, the Greenfield site will operate under the Adair charter, with Schneider and her staff overseeing both locations. Job applications are open for those interested in working at either location this summer. The center will serve breakfast and lunch and will be open from early morning through early evening. Organizers plan to partner with local libraries, the conservation board and other groups to provide programming.

“We’ll do all sorts of fun things — movie days, taking them to the pool, and have a very organized day planned,” Garside said. “You’ll have kids that come every day and kids that just pop in and out. That’s the flexibility of the Boys and Girls Club program. It’s like a summer day camp, not daycare.”

Garside and others involved said they are excited to have identified a solution and will share more details as they become available.

“This is a huge need. I think it’s easy to lose track of it when you don’t have small children, you know, but I have grandchildren, so I get it,” Garside said. “It’s a big need for kids to have a safe and healthy environment, for sure.”