Sunshine Child Center plans mortgage burning

The parent board of Sunshine Child Center has scheduled a mortgage burning celebration for 6 p.m. Monday, June 21, at the center, 213 W. Park St., Gillett.

Sunshine Child Center began serving Gillett and the surrounding communities in the fall of 1975 with five children under the direction of Cindy Coley. By 1976 there were 23 children enrolled and in 1977 a total of 48 children.

It soon became obvious that the basement of Tabor United Methodist Church, which was the center’s home at the time, was no longer big enough for the growing center. By July 1979 the children and staff relocated to the former Assembly of God Church building on First Street.

The parent board signed a three-year rent with an option to buy contract, and in August 1981 the center took out a mortgage for the purchase of the building. This mortgage was paid in full by July 1984 and the mortgage burning ceremony took place the following month.

While the new facility provided the additional space needed, it was not an ideal setup for child care, and plans were soon under way to build a new center. These dreams became a reality in 2005 when construction began in the spring and concluded with the staff and children once again on the move, this time to the brand-new facility that now houses the center. Sixteen years later, the current staff of nine cares for an average of 55 children each month, and once again the mortgage has successfully been paid in full.

The public is invited to the mortgage burning to join the center children, staff, parents, and board in celebrating the moral and financial support of the Gillett community. A brief ceremony will be followed by refreshments.