Deslonde Lamb

Chair, Dept. of Child Care Assistance

Des Moines Valley Friends

Back "in the day" of my own immediate family’s history, we were the recipients of subsidized childcare. With additional financial support, I could, as a single parent, work full-time and know that my children were safe and happy. Furthermore, the cost of this care was affordable. Not only was I a gainfully employed, tax-paying member of society, but also, I could assure the safety and comfort of my children when I wasn’t with them. The "village" provided a safety net for me and my children.

Today, I am pleased to be a member of an organization which continues to acknowledge the importance of the care of children in working families. We all know the double bind for working parents ("I worry about my children when I’m at my job; I worry about my job when I’m at home!"). By underwriting the financial portion of childcare, we help to lessen the stress for parents. DMARC offers a buffer for the anxiety over our children’s well-being, while we are separated from them during work hours.

DMARC, this past year, has provided assistance to employees from a variety of businesses in the Des Moines area, including Regency Homes, Mercy Hospitals, Ruan Transportation, and CDS. A total of 20 families/28 children were served during this time period, with a monthly average of 11 families/14 children served. The average monthly subsidy was $65.44/child.

As a "village", can we be proud of the service we provide? You bet! We offer peace of mind for the most basic of human needs – care of children. As a "village", can we do better? You bet! Let’s commit to continued support of this program.