Family Promise suspends childcare service

WASILLA — Family Promise Mat-Su is no longer able to provide childcare at their main headquarters in downtown Wasilla.

According to Family Promise Executive Director Ginger Bear, they are required to have a staff member with a bachelor's in childcare education to continue offering the service. She said they were forced to shut down the service until they find the appropriate candidate.

Bear said they offered childcare to 13 families last year. She said the cancelation is huge blow to their clients and staff alike. She said they had to let two staff members go in wake of the suspended service.

"It's been tough for everybody," Bear said. "It's very sad, and we do wish them well on their future endeavors."

The room that formerly housed their childcare program was vacated.

"Once full of activity and fun. It's just sad," Bear said. "Meanwhile, we need to generate income."

According to Bear, the board of directors decided to rent the space to Primal Martial Arts and Headquarters Custom Embroidery. She said this will help them raise funds to support local homeless families.

"It's a win-win for all of us," Bear said. "It's just part of being on the journey. Nobody said it was always going to be easy."

Family Promise offers various services such as rent and utilities assistance, free meals and clothing, family transitional housing, financial literacy, and homeless prevention.

There is a public computer lab that's open during business hours and a community closet with warm clothing and snacks that's available within the Arctic entry at the main entrance 24/7.

For more information about Family Promise Mat-Su,

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com