New Manson daycare is preparing for children
Crater Kids will open in former church
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MANSON – A former church in Manson is being transformed into a day care center to meet the needs of families in that community.
Crater Kids Community Daycare may welcome its first students into the former United Church of Christ building in January.
Opening the doors to the center will help to meet a need identified more than a year ago.
In early 2025, a survey was conducted that showed there were more than 75 children in Manson in need of some level of day care, according to Macie Schoon, the deputy city clerk and development director.
"That kind of told us that this is a real need," she said.
As community leaders pondered how to address that need, a surprise offer suddenly made a new child care facility possible.
The congregation of the United Church of Christ in Manson had dwindled to such a small number of people that the building wasn't needed. Schoon said church member Gayle Moline offered the building as a site for the day care.
The congregation also made a $10,000 donation.
"The United Church of Christ is a huge reason this is happening," Schoon said.
The City Council directed Schoon to set up a non-profit organization for the day care.
That group launched into a long process of hiring an architect, raising money and getting licensed. Renovations were completed inside the church building.
The day care will open with four classrooms with a capacity for 60 children.
It will have three or four fulltime employees and 10 to 16 part-time employees.
Schoon said the initial fundraising goal was $100,000 and about $96,000 had been raised as of mid-August.
The funding for the center includes a $10,000 grant from the Calhoun County Community Foundation and a $50,000 loan from the Calhoun County Economic Development Corp.
Donations are still being sought. Schoon said $50,000 to $100,000 will be needed for various supplies.
How to help
Donations to the Crater Kids Community Daycare can be sent to:
P.O. Box 26
Manson, IA 50563
Donations can also be made online at craterkids.org.