KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: A Safe Oasis in a Child Care Desert

KOBI: More than half of Oregonians live in what are called “Child Care Deserts,” where a lack of child care hurts families and local economies. But on the Southern Oregon coast, Oregon Community Foundation helps fund a program with a unique solution that provides a safe oasis in a child care desert. Here’s another Spirit of Community Moment.

KOBI: Life in Bandon, Oregon is shaped by nature and cared for by the people who make this corner of the Southern Oregon Coast their home. But…

Stephanie Lilly: Bandon is a child care desert. There's only room for about one in five children in child care, licensed child care.

Sabrina Doche: I really needed child care. And I was calling all around and there just wasn't anything available.

KOBI: Sabrina Doche knows how hard it was finding quality child care for her son. Then she heard about a program that changed her family’s life. 

SD: I got a recommendation and for Bandon Community Child Care, and I called, and they had a spot open, and I was able to be seen immediately and, and meet everyone and get my son signed up.

SL: Child care is really the backbone of economic stability, economic development, because without child care, parents can't go to work.

KOBI: Stephanie Lilly is the Early Learning Manager for West Coast Business, a local, non-profit that offered a creative solution to the South Coast’s child care dilemma. Let South Coast business employees help a day care in Bandon.  

SL: So, what that means basically, is you're operating a business within a business.

KOBI: And that that provided two solutions: low cost, quality child care and job opportunities. Jobs with great benefits:

SL: Health insurance, paid time off, sick leave, retirement, Employee Assistance Plan…

Dallas Brown: There is no greater job in the world than this than working with the littles, shaping young hearts and minds.

KOBI: Dallas Brown is the Bandon Community Child Care Center’s Director. He’s proud to be serving 28 families in his community.

DB: There is a really, really strong need for early childhood education. And we're sounding the alarms because if we can do this if we can be effective in their lives now, it greatly influences them.

KOBI: If you’d like to help make Southern Oregon a better place to live, visit Oregon Community Foundation at oregoncf.org.

This from KOBI TV's "Oregon Community Foundation: Spirit of Community" series.