Very Early Childhood Learning Center needs a home

Sale of United Way building leaves program looking to relocate

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Stacie Gollner fell in love with the Very Early Childhood Learning Center when she began volunteering there five years ago. That “spark,” as she calls it, grew until she eventually agreed to take over operations.

Unfortunately, the spark is in danger of being extinguished. Gollner was informed recently that the United Way of Howard and Tipton Counties had sold the building at 210 W. Walnut St. As a rent-free tenant in the building, the sale leaves the center without a home.

“Anybody that knows me knows I always have a plan,” said Gollner. “This time, I really don't have one. We have spoken to so many churches and organizations in the area. We thought we had a place, but that just recently has fallen through. So, now we're back to square one.

“We do have a storage place that we can store our items, but we may have to be shut down for a couple of months until we can find a new happy home to get our activity rooms up and running again.”

Gollner said the center will continue to serve families through its mission to provide books to young and learning readers, though the service may pause in November and December during the search.

The Very Early Childhood Learning Center was established in 2016 under the direction of Dr. Marilyn Skinner. Gollner has operated the center for the past two years, and during that time she has added Kindermusik, parenting classes, and story times to the open activity room and book program.

Since its inception, the center has grown from serving just 20 families from a small resource room to having literally hundreds of kids enjoy the facility and its programming. In fact, Gollner said that the center had nearly outgrown its current location. The sale of the building just accelerated the search for a new home.

Gollner is open to suggestions. She is willing to meet with organizations, churches, or businesses to discuss hosting the Very Early Childhood Learning Center. But there is another obstacle.

“We've never had to pay rent, right?” said Gollner. “We've been just blessed to be housed. So, if we could fall under an umbrella with another organization, or a church that we could work together with kindergarten readiness skills, and formed a partnership, that would be wonderful.”

In the meantime, Gollner is looking for volunteers who can assist with a move. To volunteer time or discuss housing the Very Early Childhood Education Center, or for additional information about the center, contact Gollner by calling 765-252-3995.