MOUNT VERNON — In 2017, the local Salvation Army Advisory Board commissioned a program study to determine how the Army could best serve Mount Vernon and Knox County. Out of the 21 recommendations the study found, one stood out to the board: affordable, quality child care.
It took a few years, a change in leadership (both in command with Capt. Christine Moretz assuming that role and on the board), but to board stalwarts like John Booth, Kevin Mishey, and Jerry Scott, the dream of helping alleviate this barrier to families persisted.
In early 2022, the board contracted with a fundraising consultant to conduct a feasibility study to ascertain if there was community support for such an undertaking. Unknown to Army personnel, the Knox County Area Development Foundation was conducting an assessment of the county’s childcare needs at the same time.
The survey found that 92.3% of respondents found it difficult to find child care, and 58% had someone in their family who was unable to work full-time due to the need to stay home with a child. WOW!
The Army’s feasibility study came back with a favorable signal that yes, indeed, community members understood and would support the Army’s efforts.
People realized that local businesses provide the economic engines that help Knox County thrive, but regardless of the product they produce or the service they provide, their workforce is vital.
Moving forward on the child care vision
The Salvation Army Board organized various committees instrumental to driving the vision forward. A Building Committee, working with Canton-based SoL Harris/Day (who has worked with the YMCA, MVNU, and the Knox County Health Department on building projects), designed a 13,720-square-foot building that blended in with the surrounding residential area.
The building features seven classrooms to accommodate children from 6 months to kindergarten age. Two classrooms are designed for the Army’s existing after-school program. The architects designed the building with safety in mind, placing an outdoor playground in its center.
Zach Shoro, director of the Learning Zone, is an experienced professional in helping young people develop their worth and self-confidence, preparing them to transition successfully into school when the time comes.
Shoro has guided the Learning Zone in successfully passing the state licensure requirements and will assume the role as director of the new childcare center when it opens in January 2026.
The campaign cabinet, led by board member Austin Swallow, has contacted community individuals, businesses, and foundations and has currently raised over $5,000,000 toward its goal of $6,250,000.
When asked why start construction when all the funds weren’t provided yet, Swallow responded, “The need is so great, we feel confident our community will continue to rally around this project and help us completely fund both the child care center and the renovations to our existing building designed to expand the Army’s social services outreach to our community.”
“We have been blessed by how quickly the Light The Day campaign and the building have come to fruition,” Capt. Moretz said.
“This new building expansion will help meet the many needs of our neighbors and friends. We are so excited to better serve Knox County.”
For more information search www.https://salarmy.us/LightTheDay or call 740-392-8716.
