Maple Tree Children's Center . . .

The Mission Statement of The Carpenter’s Fund is to develop the required resources to construct needed physical properties (such as churches, schools, community buildings) to provide centers of worship and/or learning and to improve the quality of life of God’s People in areas of the world where the means to accomplish such undertakings by the peoples themselves are not possible. We renovated a building for the Maple Tree Children’s Center and the staff acquired the proper licenses. The continuation of aid seems to stray a bit from our principles, but we feel that updating our members is the least we can do for our future generations in Jellico, TN.

Over 40% of the families with children under 5 years of age are in poverty while the overall poverty level
is 30.6%. With 87.9% of children in Jellico qualifying for government food assistance, it is easy to see the
need in this area is great. Only 35.6% of adults are high school graduates further driving home the need for affordable, quality early childhood education, however, very little is affordable in this community. Previously named the Jellico Learning Center, the Maple Tree Children’s Center has had financial difficulties in the past including having to close the doors in January of 2007.

The Carpenter’s Fund purchased the Wesleyan Church and rents it to the Mountain Women’s Exchange for $1 per year. The Maple Tree Children’s Center opened in 2009 and has been struggling ever since. The Fund has not made any decisions to provide financial assistance to the Center so far, but your input in the matter would be greatly appreciated. A powerpoint from Harry Chase, secretary for the Mountain Women’s Exchange, is available if you or your parish/company are interested in a copy. To view the presentation, click here.

Please continue to pray not only for the children of Jellico, TN, but for their families as well. The Maple Tree Children’s Center is a necessity for the community and without our collective help, it could very well be forced to shut down again leaving the children without care and early education.

These children are getting the opportunity of a lifetime that many of us take for granted every day. They are some of the first children being educated at the center. Harry Chase, secretary for the Mountain Women's Exchange, recognized the need for childcare in the area due to the combination of high teenage pregnancy and low household incomes. Young women do not often graduate from high school because many of them do not have access to affordable childcare.

The Center is located near the local high school and provides childcare on a sliding scale so that these mothers have a safe place to leave their children. Harry Chase reports that the children are doing fine, but the center is struggling. The need is there, but the funds are not. Only two of the eight children enrolled are able to pay and the Mountain Women's Exchange is having to take out loans just to pay employees.

Mr. Chase is hopeful the funding will come through from local fund raising and charities and that the center will be eligible for infants soon.