For many families, when daycare isn’t working, nothing feels right. On April 30, 1994, a group of parents experienced this firsthand. That day, we picked up our children from Walker Avenue Children’s House—a small, cozy center where most of our little ones had been since they were babies.

But something was different. The teachers stood in shock, parents quietly shared worried glances, and our children continued playing—unaware of the change we were all about to face.

We were handed a notice: the center was closing in 60 days. The building was being sold, and the two working mothers who had lovingly founded the daycare 11 years earlier had made the tough decision to close its doors. We were devastated.

​​Walker Avenue Children’s House was more than just a daycare—it was a nurturing home for 25 children, cared for by teachers who felt like family. Housed in a charming, old brick building with a shady playground, it was a place where four full-time and two part-time teachers provided exceptional care. The children were only separated by age for an hour each day during “group time.” Our children loved the teachers, and we, as parents, had come to rely on the nurturing environment they provided. Many of us had children there who were cared for by the same teachers as their older siblings. The thought of losing this place was unimaginable.

The Start of Something New

Because we were all so passionate about the care our children were receiving, a group of parents and teachers decided that we had to keep this going. Just seven months later, we opened Our Children’s House–-a brand-new nonprofit daycare at a different location, owned by 11 founding families.

We spent more than half the year working on this project, but it was worth every minute.

Our First Steps

Within days of receiving the notice, parents and teachers gathered at a warehouse owned by one of the families. There, we realized that the current owners of Walker Avenue Children’s House were firm in their decision to close the center. It was clear that we had to find another way to continue the daycare.

We began meeting weekly to discuss our options. As we researched, we learned that keeping the old building wasn’t possible. Due to new state and local codes, it would have cost thousands of dollars to bring the facility up to current standards.

We realized that the heart of the school wasn’t the building—it was the teachers. These teachers, many of whom had been with the school for years, were skilled, nurturing, and creative. We asked them if they would stay with us if we opened a new daycare, and they all said yes, putting their trust in us, even though we didn’t yet have a solid plan.

Finding a Home for Our Dream

Next, we began searching for a new location. After exploring several options, we ultimately decided that the best choice was to build our own building.

We found a lot that was the right size and location. With a rough plan and a cost estimate, we realized it was doable—but we still needed the money to purchase the land and build.

One parent, who had entrepreneurial experience, presented an idea to form a limited liability corporation (LLC). This LLC would buy the land, build the building, and rent it at cost to the nonprofit child care center. The daycare could then cover the mortgage payments through rent.

At a meeting, each family wrote down how much they could invest toward the purchase. To our amazement, the total was the exact amount needed! Eleven families formed the LLC, called Time Out Properties, and we moved forward with the project.

Creating Our New Daycare

While Time Out Properties worked on financing, the larger group of parents created the nonprofit child care center, naming it Our Children’s House. We established bylaws, created a board, and appointed officers.

Since we had to leave Walker Avenue by July 1, we found a temporary space in a church for the summer. We licensed the space and then, for five weeks, worked tirelessly to clean and set it up while planning our permanent center. We later found another temporary location for use from August to November, and after another licensing process, moved there.

The building process for our permanent location began, and by August 6, we held a groundbreaking ceremony. Families gathered for a fun day with face painting, games, a house-shaped cake, and even a song written about Our Children’s House. The children started to understand what all our hard work was about, and the excitement grew.

Opening Day

Throughout the fall, the building went up. Parents and teachers worked with architects to design a space that would meet daycare codes, fit on the lot, and allow for our small, homelike environment. By the end of November 1994, the building was ready.

On November 28, 1994, Our Children’s House officially opened its doors. The first day was a celebration, with TV cameras and reporters there to capture the moment. For the parents and teachers who had worked so hard, it felt like a dream come true. The children quickly fell in love with their new school, and it was clear we had created something special.

A Year Later

As we approach the first anniversary of Our Children’s House, we’re proud of all we’ve accomplished. What began as a challenge became an incredible opportunity to create a nonprofit daycare rooted in our values of love, community, and exceptional care.

This journey has shown us that when parents unite, driven by their love for their children, there’s nothing they can’t achieve. We look forward to carrying this spirit forward for many years to come.

We welcome your family to be part of this special journey at Our Children’s House.