Non-profit unveils affordable childcare in Hilltop

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A west side non-profit is hoping its new center will help area families solve the problem of finding quality, affordable childcare.

“Affordable childcare until you hit preschool age is really, really hard to find. They’re out there, but it's just really hard to find," said Andrea Douglass, parent of a 3-year-old.

It's why she spent part of her Tuesday morning at Lower Lights Ministries Child Enrichment Center's open house. She wanted to see if it was a place she'd like for her daughter.

“We’re going to have to do a lot of cleanup from all the toys she got into," Douglass said. "This is really great. It feels like what you would expect from a childcare center from a parent.”

The nonprofit wanted to bring more affordable, accessible, and quality childcare to the community, according to Emmalyn Jerome, Lower Lights Ministries CEO. Between finding a space for the center to construction, the project took several years, starting in 2020. Now the center is full of toys and educational materials.

“Blighted empty space and fast forward to today, it's like wow, just an amazing transformation," Jerome said. "Today is just a day of celebration to be able to have an open house and say to the Hilltop neighborhood, central Hilltop neighborhood as well as the whole west side of Columbus like hey this is for you and for your community, for our community."

The center will start with offering early learning to kids as young as 18 months. The project started under Jan Ruark, Lower Lights Ministries CEO Emeritus. She said the center will benefit kids, families, and the community as a whole.

“I had not seen it during the construction, and I was able to walk in and just kind of burst into tears to be honest with you,” Ruark said. “It's so beautiful, but the children in this community deserve every bit of this and more. It's perfect for them.”

The nonprofit plans to have the center up and running in late March. Jerome said families interested in enrolling can stop in or check out its website.