The doors of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation are always open to those looking to engage in faithful activities.
On Tuesday, the church threw the doors open to the public for another reason.
The grand opening of the new childcare center at the church was a reason for celebration. Parents, community leaders and elected officials got their first look at the facility, which is being operated by the Highlands Community Child Development Center.
Among the many resources working families need in Highlands, childcare has been at the top of the list for a long time. Both the HCCDC and the Gordon Center, are at capacity with waiting lists for all age groups.
While the new rooms at the Church of the Incarnation will not completely fill the childcare gap, they are certainly a welcome addition. And the origin story of how the childcare facility came to be is a feather in the cap of the individuals who worked so hard to bring it to life.
“We heard from several of our church members how big a need childcare was for people who live here, but also for people who come to Highlands for work,” Rev. Kellan Day said. “Immediately the thought became, ‘What can we do to help?’”
The church building, which underwent a major renovation in 2021-22, was a big part of the answer.
It is no small task top open a childcare facility. There are building requirements that must be met, as well as local, county, and state regulations related to fire codes, Americans with Disabilities Act standards, ingress and egress guidelines, etc. The permitting alone is a maze of regulatory bodies, government agencies, and red tape.
It was described by one of the community members who volunteered to help get the new childcare rooms off the ground as a “years long process.”
Undeterred by the amount of work involved, both on paper and in construction, the staffs of the HCCDC and Church of the Incarnation worked together to make the new childcare rooms a reality. Tuesday’s open house and official grand opening showcased their successes and we are all better off because of their efforts.