MOUNT VERNON — The Salvation Army broke ground Thursday morning on its new childcare facility, the Learning Lighthouse.
The Army is building the center on its Mount Vernon campus on Ohio Avenue.
The Army will fund the new facility through a $6 million fundraising campaign. Once completed, it will allow The Salvation Army to provide up to 112 childcare placements.
As the gathering of donors, campaign leaders, and Salvation Army officers sheltered beneath tents to escape the morning’s chilly rain, Mount Vernon Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers said, “It’s not news to anybody in this crowd the need the community has when it comes to childcare.”
(Photos by Andrew Champlin)
According to the Area Development Foundation’s 2022 Knox County childcare needs assessment, over 92% of respondents found securing childcare in Knox County difficult. Fifty-five percent considered leaving their jobs due to childcare needs.
Army advisory board members saw an opportunity to care for their community through this survey and data collected by The Salvation Army through its 2017 program study and 2021 community conversations.
“We saw a need many years ago for childcare in this community,” said Advisory Board Chairman John Booth. “When this board caught the vision, they ran with it. Many, many hours of prayer have gone into this already.”
New childcare facility: sacrifice and commitment
Salvation Army Capt. Christine Moretz said of the campaign and groundbreaking, “We do the hard work now to provide new hope and provision for people as we lean into the future. Together, we — the Army, our campaign cabinet, and our advisory board — thank all of the donors who have lovingly and generously provided full support in planning, plowing, and planting this project.”
“Each gift we have received has been a sacrifice,” said Campaign Chair Austin Swallow. “But it has also been a commitment to a better future for our children and, therefore, our community.”
The 112 childcare placements are for children aged 6 and older. The new facility includes a kitchen, indoor gymnasium, outdoor play areas, and a sensory-aware area.
When the new childcare facility opens in January 2026, the Army will start renovating its current site. During construction, the Army’s current facility, which includes programs for families, children, and seniors, will remain fully operational.
For more information about The Salvation Army in Mount Vernon or the Light the Day campaign, visit SalvationarmyOhio.org or https://salarmy.us/LightTheDay.