East Mills School District Celebrates New Childcare Facility With Ground-breaking

Saturday was a red letter day in Malvern as East Mills Child Care Solutions (EMCCS) staged a ground-breaking event for the long-awaited Lakin Foundation Child Development Center Of East Mills.

EMCCS board members and volunteers have been fundraising and drumming up support for nearly three years to bring a childcare center to the Malvern community. The Lakin Foundation Child Development Center Of East Mills will be located in a former skilled nursing care facility at 905 2nd Ave. The first phase of the childcare center is slated to open later this year.

“We plan to open in November of ’25 for children ages six weeks to 12 years,” EMCCS President Meagan Schnoor stated during a post-ground breaking reception. “We will be able to serve about 70 kids when we first open and expand up to 150 when we complete that north wing.”

Schnoor noted that childcare services will be available at the facility throughout the year, including the summer months and holiday breaks when school isn’t in session.

During her address, Schnoor gave a fundraising update for the project.

“To date, we’ve raised a staggering $4.6 million, but it’s only 94 percent of what we need,” she said.

Dozens of donors and major benefactors for the project attended Saturday’s event, including representatives from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, Malvern Bank, Western Iowa Networks, Mills County, City Of Malvern and East Mills Community School District.

County supervisor Richard Crouch commended EMCCS for bringing the project to fruition, noting there were several obstacles to clear along the way.

“When the idea of a daycare was first introduced, there were more questions than answers. As conversations continued, the questions turned into solutions and solutions turned into action. What was once just an idea became a mission,” Crouch said. “The journey was not easy.

There were challenges, roadblocks and obstacles that many may never know. Yet, those who persevered saw these challenges not as barriers, but as stepping stones.

Crouch also praised the Malvern community for its vision.

“The city of Malvern recognized that with increased housing availability, there would inevitably be a growing demand for resources that support families,” he said. “As Malvern continues to expand, meeting the housing needs of the residents, the next logical step was to provide services that make a community truly thrive. I admire Malvern’s ability to grow while maintaining the small town charm that makes it so special.”

Fellow county supervisor Jack Sayers, a 2024 East Mills High School graduate, said the childcare center represents a commitment to the children of the East Mills community and their families.

“The opening of the Lakin Foundation Childhood Development Center of East Mills is not a project that is just about bricks and mortar. It is about the future of our children, our families and our entire community,” he said. “This center represents a commitment to the children of our community, to their education, their well-being and their dreams.”

Malvern Mayor Douglas Shere voiced his appreciation for the EMCCS board members and financial donors to the project.

“Your direction, tireless efforts and steadfast leadership have made this day possible,” Shere said. “Your commitment to this project will have a lasting impact on generations to come.

“Because of your hard work and vision, we are building more than just a facility. We’re building opportunities, strengthening our families and investing in the success of our community.”
East Mills Board Of Education President Mark Stearns congratulated EMCCS for carrying out what he called a “Herculean task.”

“The school district is excited to work with them. Our plans are to share preschool curriculum and kindergarten, where appropriate, curriculum,” Stearns said. “Also, we’re excited about the possibility of having internships for juniors and seniors – kind of tying into the work we’re doing out at SWITCH (Southwest Iowa Technical Career Hub) for career training.”

Additional information about the Lakin Foundation Child Development Center Of East Mills is available on EMCCS website – emccs.square.site.