From Staff Reports

EAST FLAT ROCK — The leaders and parents at an East Flat Rock daycare center that closed at 5 p.m. Dec. 20 said they were feeling more of the Christmas spirit after all of the families found slots and employees found jobs at other childcare facilities in the area, the Hendersonville Lightning reported on Dec 18.

Other facilities were also grateful to receive equipment and supplies from Tomorrow’s Hope Child Development Center, Director Terry Maybin told the Lightning.

“We’re just saying God was in this,” Maybin was quoted as saying by the Lightning. “It’s much better than we thought” it would be. “I’m sleeping better now because everyone is going somewhere.”

The newspaper added, “After it received an eviction notice in early November from Hope United Methodist Church, the (daycare) center, which has been operating in East Flat Rock for the past 25 years, notified parents that it would close on Dec. 31. The church, on Spartanburg Highway at West Blue Ridge Road, had leased a building to Tomorrow’s Hope.

“After it received th eviction notice, Maybin was concerned that parents of the 32 children remaining at the center would not have time to find other daycare operations in Henderson County.

“But she said this week (mid-December) that all (of) the children and daycare workers had found opportunities at other facilities.

“The preschool at Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church in Hendersonville opened two rooms that were closed after four of the eight staff members from Tomorrow’s Hope agreed to work at the Chimney Rock Road school, Maybin said.

“That program also took 15 to 20 of the children from Tomorrow’s Hope. Other families found slots and staff found jobs at other centers.”

To that end, Maybin told the Lightning, “I never dreams there would be that many spots available.”

Further, the newspaper noted, “Once all (of) the children and staff found other options, Maybin turned her attention to finding a home for ‘25 years of stuff,’ including supplies and playground equipment at the East Flat Rock daycare center.

“Yancey County took six loads of supplies, including furniture, toys and playground equipment, after the county lost two childcare centers” to Tropical Storm Helene.

“Other items were given to facilities in Henderson and Buncombe counties. Atkinson Elementary School also took some supplies it needed after sustaining flood damage in the hurricane, Maybin said. 

 â€œMaybin said she also hoped to make donations to the Samaritan’s Purse charity and the Back on Track Resale Store and Addiction Ministries in Hendersonville. Any funds left over will be donated to local nonprofit agencies, she said.

The newspaper stated that Maybin said she was pleasantly surprise that all of the children and all of the staff found a home before Christmas.

She also said she plans to retire after serving as the center’s director for the last 25 years.

“It all turned out good,” Maybin was quoted by the Lighting as saying.

On Dec. 16, a notice on the center’s front door informed visitors that the center will close at 5 p.m. Dec. 20 — and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, the Lightning reported.