Donate Now to Support the VBCH Childcare Center Playground

The VBCH Childcare Center is currently raising funds to revamp our playground space. The space has not had any major work done since the Center’s opening in 2012. Here are a few Fun Facts about the Center, our playground, and the importance of outdoor play in early childhood development:

• Our Center is the largest childcare provider in the county. It is licensed for up to 60 children, plus houses a section of Van Buren County Community School District’s 4-year-old preschool during the school year.
• The playground is sub-divided into three separate spaces to ensure age appropriate equipment for all ages served. We plan to keep this model moving forward.
• The current ground covering in 2/3 of the space are tire chips. While these are the most economical option, they can stain clothing and can be picked up easily (if you’ve had a toddler you know that means a risk of being tasted…yuck).
• The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) emphasizes the important of outdoor play for young children, explaining that outdoor play helps kids meet developmental milestones; improve attention spans and behavior; strengthen learning, language, and emotional skills; and build strong bodies through climbing, running, and exploration.
• We need our community's help. The hospital does not take any profit from the Childcare Center, in fact, the hospital typically supplements the operation each year. We do this because the Center is such an important part of our community. We need your help to ensure it stays vibrant and up-to-date for the children it serves.

Our fundraising goal is $200,000. Every dollar raised through this campaign will go directly to the playground space.