The Jan. 4 school shooting is nothing the community of Perry expected. In its wake, individuals and organizations have sprung into action with help and support. Acorns and Oaks Christian Academy, along with other Perry childcare centers, is offering drop-in childcare to the community of Perry for a nominal fee of $15 a day, which will be donated to the families impacted by the tragedy.
“We stand together with the entire community of Perry,” said Mandi Ballentine, director of Acorns and Oaks Christian Academy. “And serving children and families is what we do, so we’re overjoyed to be able to provide a safe space for children to play, learn and grow and to know that they are loved deeply by the Lord.”
The help and support for children and families of the Perry community doesn’t stop there. Mike Parker of Parker Trucking LLC in Adel reached out to Acorns and Oaks with a donation to cover the daily rate for families each day and then some. This kind gesture inspired additional generosity in which both the Perry Lutheran Homes and Christ Lutheran Church in Bouton have pledged to match Parker Trucking’s donation. All proceeds collected for drop-in childcare will be donated to the families impacted by the tragedy.
Drop-in childcare includes meals, snacks, activities and more from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. for children in preschool through fifth grade. Acorns and Oaks Christian Academy daycare and preschool are located on-site at Perry Lutheran Homes King’s Gardens Campus at 2323 Willis Ave.
In addition, the city of Perry has partnered with Acorns and Oaks. the Perry Child Development Center and PACES in order to provide a Child Watch program for school-aged children. These organizations, along with others, are providing no-cost meals, snacks and activities from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the McCreary Community Building at 1800 Pattee St. Free-will donations will be collected and donated to the families impacted.
Generosity extended even further, with the Perry Lutheran Homes donating snacks for the programs, and both the Perry Lutheran Homes and Dallas County Hospital are donating time and on-call access to trained nurses should any health needs arise.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those we lost, those who were wounded and those who are hurting in their hearts,” said the Rev. Max Phillips, Perry Lutheran Homes CEO and senior pastor at the Christ Lutheran Church in Bouton. “Despite the terrible loss the community of Perry is experiencing, it’s incredible to witness the outpouring of support from so many. We are called to love each other just as Christ has loved us, and that is what we are seeing in this community — and beyond — each and every day,”
For more information on drop-in childcare or the Child Watch program, please contact Mandi Ballentine at 515-490-6013 or mandi@acornsoaks.org.
Mollie Clark is the marketing director for the Perry Lutheran Homes.
