GREAT FALLS — Toby's House Crisis Nursery is on the verge of finally opening. Susie Zeak, the executive director said Monday she hopes to be open December 28.
The organization has been working to open for years, with the most recent challenge being a lack of applicants for open positions.
Zeak says specifically the challenge is finding people willing to work evenings, nights, and weekends. Rather than keep waiting, Toby’s House has applied for a license to become a group childcare center.
The license will allow Toby’s House to open and start providing some service while working to get more staff. "I feel very strongly about giving the community this gift during the holidays, to offer respite for families that need childcare,” Zeak said.
In order to be licensed as a crisis nursery, Toby’s House has to be open and staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week 365 days a year.
To learn more, volunteer, or donate, click here to visit the website, or click here to visit the Facebook page. You can also call 406-770-3191 or email admin@tobyshousemt.org.
BACKGROUND: In 2011, October "Toby" Perez died at the age of two after being physically abused - and that's what brought about the idea of Toby's House Crisis Nursery. A crisis nursery is a licensed facility providing short term, non-medical residential care and supervision for children under six years of age, voluntarily brought by a parent of legal guardian due to a family crisis or stressful situation for no-cost childcare.
