Scharf Leaves New Beginnings After 9 Years
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MILFORD - Deb Scharf is on her way to a new beginning.
Scharf is retiring from her position as director at New Beginnings Child Care Oct. 21. She will begin her own child care center Oct. 22.
"In this job, I've met so many wonderful community people and that's not just in Milford," Scharf said.
"She's been a very hard worker and put in a lot of hours to get things done," Milford Clerk Treasurer Charlotte Siegfried said of the time and effort Scharf has put in at New Beginnings.
While at New Beginnings, approximately $138,000 was been raised to help with the construction costs and furnishing of the new facility, Scharf said. The money was raised through private donations, corporate support, grants and fund-raisers.
"She's been very important to the day care," said Shea Kelly, a mother with children in New Beginnings.
New Beginnings is on the Indiana Department of Education food program. Children at New Beginnings benefit from the Computer Tots program through Dekko Foundation efforts. Ten families at New Beginnings are on the child care voucher program which allows low-income families to receive help in paying their child care bills each week.
The center is represented at the Step Ahead Council of Kosciusko County as well as at the Child Care Task Force. The staff takes CDA classes funded through the Dekko Foundation.
Siegfried said of Scharf, "I think she'll be missed quite a bit."
Scharf said New Beginnings Child Care couldn't have been as successful as it has been without the strong community support. The support for the child care center was first seen when the international company that owned it was going to close it down.
"In Milford, the need is so great for child care that there was no way that we could close the day care," she said.
"Milford took the responsibility to keep it open. We have a very fine board of good people who work hard. The community is for the day care."
Leaving the center will be difficult, Scharf said, but her own child care center will bring about a new beginning she is looking forward to.
"It'll take a lot to replace her. She's a big part of (my children's) lives. They are definitely going to miss her," Kelly said.
Scharf and her husband, Randall, have been married for 20 years and have seven sons. Their sons range in age from 5 to 20 years old.
"I'm looking forward to being home with my boys a little more after all these years," she said.
And while being with her own children, the children in her child care will also be a new joy in her life, she said.
"I'm truly looking forward to working with young children again," she said.
Siegfried said, "She's got to be a dedicated person to do her job and raise a family of seven sons."
Scharf's own child care center will be in her home in the Chapman Lake area. Her new child care center will be called "The Children's House." The center is for infants to 10-year-old children.
Hours for her day care will be 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Included in Scharf's new center are age- appropriate activities, breakfast, hot lunch and two snacks. Step Ahead vouchers are accepted.
People interested in The Children's House can call Scharf at 269-5469 for a tour and enrollment information.
Kelly said, "She's had a very positive effect on my child." [[In-content Ad]]
MILFORD - Deb Scharf is on her way to a new beginning.
Scharf is retiring from her position as director at New Beginnings Child Care Oct. 21. She will begin her own child care center Oct. 22.
"In this job, I've met so many wonderful community people and that's not just in Milford," Scharf said.
"She's been a very hard worker and put in a lot of hours to get things done," Milford Clerk Treasurer Charlotte Siegfried said of the time and effort Scharf has put in at New Beginnings.
While at New Beginnings, approximately $138,000 was been raised to help with the construction costs and furnishing of the new facility, Scharf said. The money was raised through private donations, corporate support, grants and fund-raisers.
"She's been very important to the day care," said Shea Kelly, a mother with children in New Beginnings.
New Beginnings is on the Indiana Department of Education food program. Children at New Beginnings benefit from the Computer Tots program through Dekko Foundation efforts. Ten families at New Beginnings are on the child care voucher program which allows low-income families to receive help in paying their child care bills each week.
The center is represented at the Step Ahead Council of Kosciusko County as well as at the Child Care Task Force. The staff takes CDA classes funded through the Dekko Foundation.
Siegfried said of Scharf, "I think she'll be missed quite a bit."
Scharf said New Beginnings Child Care couldn't have been as successful as it has been without the strong community support. The support for the child care center was first seen when the international company that owned it was going to close it down.
"In Milford, the need is so great for child care that there was no way that we could close the day care," she said.
"Milford took the responsibility to keep it open. We have a very fine board of good people who work hard. The community is for the day care."
Leaving the center will be difficult, Scharf said, but her own child care center will bring about a new beginning she is looking forward to.
"It'll take a lot to replace her. She's a big part of (my children's) lives. They are definitely going to miss her," Kelly said.
Scharf and her husband, Randall, have been married for 20 years and have seven sons. Their sons range in age from 5 to 20 years old.
"I'm looking forward to being home with my boys a little more after all these years," she said.
And while being with her own children, the children in her child care will also be a new joy in her life, she said.
"I'm truly looking forward to working with young children again," she said.
Siegfried said, "She's got to be a dedicated person to do her job and raise a family of seven sons."
Scharf's own child care center will be in her home in the Chapman Lake area. Her new child care center will be called "The Children's House." The center is for infants to 10-year-old children.
Hours for her day care will be 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Included in Scharf's new center are age- appropriate activities, breakfast, hot lunch and two snacks. Step Ahead vouchers are accepted.
People interested in The Children's House can call Scharf at 269-5469 for a tour and enrollment information.
Kelly said, "She's had a very positive effect on my child." [[In-content Ad]]