No Options - By Mary Beth Hart

I work with one of the largest employers in my area, with 1,300 (estimated) other team members. No matter what shift I choose to work, there is no facility that can accommodate my schedule for care. When we got pregnant, we thought we had it all figured out, but unfortunately our babysitter passed away suddenly when our son was 2 ½ years old. We have struggled so much with child care that we have decided we will not get pregnant again, and my hopes of adoption/foster care is also a no. I have been made to feel like my son is a burden on people because I need him cared for.

We live in a very poor area, and once people get hired at my job, they think they too have figured it out. But unforeseen circumstances happen, and so many people just have to quit and stay at home with their kids. We are allowing our area to stay in poverty by not offering options to everyone.

Before school care is what I need most, but a lot of families would benefit from an after-school program as well. We've had a few little churches try to start up something, but nothing lasts. We have so many buildings that could be used, jobs that could be created, and kids who could benefit from a safe and structured place to stay.