Some of the most important people in your child’s life may be the people you leave them with on your way to work. Since 1995, Child Care Provider Appreciation Day has been celebrated on the Friday before Mother’s Day to recognize child care providers, teachers and educators and their role in shaping young minds in their communities.

United Way of Door County Child Care Community Coordinator Molly Gary has had a front-row seat to the impact facilities such as Northern Door Children’s Center in Sister Bay and Doorway to Learning in Sturgeon Bay have had in the area. Both centers have expanded operations in recent years, allowing more families access to high-quality child care while enabling parents to remain employed in the community.

Gary spent many years in education before taking on the coordinator position, but she said she became even more appreciative of the work early childhood educators do to prepare children for elementary school and beyond while strengthening the community as a whole.

Gary said affordability remains the biggest challenge facing the local industry, with families struggling to afford tuition while child care centers search for ways to retain high-quality teachers in the area. Child care remains a major focus for United Way of Door County, which continues securing grants and organizing workgroups to expand support services.