Help Us Keep Serving Our Community: Rebuilding after a Devastating Theft

Dear Friends, Parents, Supporters, and Community,

I reach out to you today with a heavy heart and a plea for your support. My name is Shemika Lucas, and I am the grants and special programs coordinator at Mt Zion Day Care Center, which has been a cornerstone of our community for nearly a century. For over 50 years, my family has poured love, dedication, and resources into nurturing the children of of Thomasville and surrounding counties. Our daycare, founded in 1932, has been a beacon of hope and opportunity for countless families over the decades.

However, on the morning of May 13, 2024, we were met with a heartbreaking discovery: our daycare van, essential for transporting our children safely to and from our center, had been stolen. The loss of this van couldn't have come at a worse time. With our summer program scheduled to kick off in just one week, (May 20, 2024), we are facing an urgent need to replace it in order to continue serving our children effectively without increasing rates to take on an unexpected payment.

Yes, the vehicle is covered by insurance. Unfortunately, our insurance coverage falls short of the necessary funds to replace the van promptly. This was made evident as we searched for a replacement yesterday, PRICES HAVE DEFINITELY DOUBLED over the last few years. They have told us it will be a few weeks before then can consider reimbursement at current value of the van as they would like to wait and see if the van will resurface. While we are grateful for any assistance provided, the reality is that the reimbursement we receive will not be sufficient to acquire a replacement vehicle in time for our summer program.

That's why we're turning to you, our extended family and community, in this time of need. As you all know, we are typically on the giving end of thinks, our community's generosity has always been the lifeblood of our center, and now we humbly ask for your help to keep our kids engaged through summer trips and our mission alive. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a tangible difference in ensuring that we can continue providing a safe, nurturing environment for the children who depend on us.

Your support will not only help us replace our stolen van, state required equipment (safety seats, extinguishers and first aid kits), but will also enable us to uphold our commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders, dreamers, and change-makers in our community. We can't allow these young minds to lie idle all summer, we have to keep them engaged. Together, we can overcome this setback and emerge stronger, more resilient, and more united than ever before.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for considering our plea and for your unwavering support over the years. Please share our campaign with your friends, family, and networks, and let's rally together to ensure that every child who walks through our doors has the opportunity to thrive.

With deepest gratitude,

Shemika S. Lucas, SPC

Willie Mae Lewis-Diggs

Owner, Mt. Zion Day Care Center