INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -
The bad economy was forcing a children's center in Independence to consider shutting its doors for good, but a new and unique partnership will now help keep the center open.
Sunshine Center in eastern Jackson County said it has been struggling to get by lately because they've been forced to cut staff hours and have even consider closing for good, but the Independence School District didn't want to let that happen, so they're bringing a ray of hope back to Sunshine Center.
Kids are smiling and playing now, but not too long ago the Sunshine Center's situation was pretty gloomy.
"We were months away from shutting our doors," said Beth Grubb, Director of Sunshine Center. "Like many non-profits, donations have been way down."
Not only was money down, but they also had parents pulling their kids out of the center.
"Because they lost their jobs or they found a neighborhood who could watch their child, they were struggling to save money any way they could, the economy really dealt us a blow," said Grubb.
Sunshine Center has a mix of kids for basic early childhood education and special needs children who need occupational, physical and speech therapies.
"Lot of parents don't have any other place to take their child because they don't have centers that have accommodations for children with special needs," said Grubb.
"So, if the doors here had closed it would have been a tremendous loss," said Nancy Lewis, with the Independence School District.
After the center approached the Independence School District, it then decided to lend a hand.
"The school district wanted to come in and help Sunshine Center because we really believe in what they do," said Lewis.
They hope that means no more gloomy skies at Sunshine Center.
The district for now has taken over operations of the center, but they're working out funding and legal details to purchase it.
"This is a unique partnership between a non-profit and a school district, but it fits with the district's focus on early childhood education," said Lewis. "And it's really unique because they provide for students with disabilities and then bring other students in the classroom without disabilities and they work with each other, so we're really impressed with what they're doing here and that's going to continue."
Sunshine Center in eastern Jackson County said it has been struggling to get by lately because they've been forced to cut staff hours and have even consider closing for good, but the Independence School District didn't want to let that happen, so they're bringing a ray of hope back to Sunshine Center.
Kids are smiling and playing now, but not too long ago the Sunshine Center's situation was pretty gloomy.
"We were months away from shutting our doors," said Beth Grubb, Director of Sunshine Center. "Like many non-profits, donations have been way down."
Not only was money down, but they also had parents pulling their kids out of the center.
"Because they lost their jobs or they found a neighborhood who could watch their child, they were struggling to save money any way they could, the economy really dealt us a blow," said Grubb.
Sunshine Center has a mix of kids for basic early childhood education and special needs children who need occupational, physical and speech therapies.
"Lot of parents don't have any other place to take their child because they don't have centers that have accommodations for children with special needs," said Grubb.
"So, if the doors here had closed it would have been a tremendous loss," said Nancy Lewis, with the Independence School District.
After the center approached the Independence School District, it then decided to lend a hand.
"The school district wanted to come in and help Sunshine Center because we really believe in what they do," said Lewis.
They hope that means no more gloomy skies at Sunshine Center.
The district for now has taken over operations of the center, but they're working out funding and legal details to purchase it.
"This is a unique partnership between a non-profit and a school district, but it fits with the district's focus on early childhood education," said Lewis. "And it's really unique because they provide for students with disabilities and then bring other students in the classroom without disabilities and they work with each other, so we're really impressed with what they're doing here and that's going to continue."
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