Relief in a desert: Finding child care in Northwest Montana
Storytime at Immanuel Living's Growing Roots Early Learning Center in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Three- and four-year-olds work on craft projects at Immanuel Living's Growing Roots Early Learning Center in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Four and five-year-olds work on craft projects at Immanuel Living's Growing Roots Early Learning Center in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
One-year-olds work on painting projects at Immanuel Living's Growing Roots Early Learning Center in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Three- and four-year-olds work on craft projects at Immanuel Living's Growing Roots Early Learning Center in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Two- and three-year-olds play on the playground at Immanuel Living's Growing Roots Early Learning Center in Kalispell on Tuesday, March 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
As one of the few places in Bigfork for children to hang out, learn and play while parents are at work, there’s always a long waitlist for the Bigfork ACES after-school and summer programs.
Several single fathers have come through the door lately, desperate to find a place for their children to go after school. When a parent calls and asks to be bumped up on the list it’s typically not allowed, but Cathy Hay, founder and director of the program, had a recent moment of weakness when a father contacted her.
“He literally came into my office and teared up and said, ‘I’m going to lose my job. I don’t want to lose my little girl. She’s 5, she’s beautiful. Can she please, please get into your program?’ ... And I just said, ‘Yes, she’s in,’” Hay said.
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