Page 6 - Child Care Resource Center

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PERSPECTIVES NEWSLETTER
Provider Profile
Opening her own center had always been a dream
for Lancaster child care provider Lona Aguirre and in early March 2020, Lona and her husband used their life savings to open a 12,000 sq-ft facility of their own. But just days later, the pandemic prompted restrictions across California and forced child care facilities to close. Without help from Child Care Resource Center, Lona says her dream could have become a nightmare.
“We were in the middle of licensing our new facility and the department said they wouldn’t be licensing anyone for the next few months,” Lona, who owns Pure and Simple Academy and Child Care Center, says. “We put our life savings into this building and hearing it couldn’t happen was devastating.”
Lona, who had operated a home-based daycare for the past 22 years, had already moved out of her old space and had hired teachers – many of them with training to care for children with special needs – to care for up to 150 children at her new facility.
“We had 22 teachers hired on and ready to go but with the pandemic, we had to lay off most of them,” Lona says.
Lona eventually got her center licensed and was able to welcome in up to 10 children. But within weeks of opening, a parent sick with COVID-19 came into the center, forcing Lona to close the facility for 14 days and disinfect.
“That was another unexpected $2,000,” Lona says.
“I had to start sanitizing rooms daily and stop letting parents come in, so I had to buy computers for check-in outside. Then I had to purchase masks for every child.”
With the weight of these financial burdens piling up and the uncertainty of what lay ahead, Lona connected with CCRC to ask for help. She says CCRC responded
in a big way with COVID-related funding, cleaning supplies and other materials.
“Without CCRC, I would have been closed a long time ago, they helped a lot with supplies and fighting for our funding,” Lona says. “They’re fighting for us and they stepped up when we providers needed it most.”
Throughout the pandemic, CCRC staff has contacted Lona and other child care providers in our network when supplies like diapers, wipes, fresh food, and education materials have become available.
“Getting supplies from CCRC to give families – it makes me emotional,” Lona says. “Families were so grateful and thankful. We were giving dinners out every Wednesday because we knew families were running out of food. We paid payroll but then everything went back to our families.”
More than one year into this pandemic, child care providers like Lona are still facing financial and logistical obstacles keeping their facilities open. But with CCRC by her side, Lona says she’s able to keep working and hopes one day to invite more children in to experience her dream for themselves.
“It was and is so tough and emotional, but CCRC staff is always comforting me, telling me don’t worry it will work out,” Lona says. “It’s amazing support, you need that support team.”