Helping Families Work While Their Children Thrive at Trinity Christian Daycare

Staff member Danita cares for a child in Trinity Christian Daycare.

For working parents, reliable childcare isn’t just a convenience – it’s essential. At Trinity Christian Daycare, families know their children are cared for in a safe, nurturing environment while they work, contribute to the local economy, and support their households.

Support from United Way of Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties helps make that possible.

Through a United Way grant, Trinity Christian Daycare is able to provide tuition assistance that lowers the weekly cost of childcare for local families. According to Director Nancy Link, this support helps parents remain in the workforce while ensuring their children receive quality care.

“The daycare provides a safe and caring environment for the children while their parents work,” Link said. “The United Way grant helps reduce the amount of tuition each family owes each week. This helps keep them working and contributing to essential jobs in our community.”

Making Childcare Affordable for Working Families

Families who receive assistance are committed to making the most of the opportunity. Tuition payments are monitored weekly, and parents work hard to stay current so they can continue receiving the support that makes childcare manageable.

“They’re very conscious of paying on time,” Link said. “They don’t want to risk losing the assistance.”

For many families, the help makes a significant difference.

One parent shared that the grant allows both parents in their household to remain in the workforce while raising young children.

“The United Way grant has been imperative for my family and me to afford full-time childcare. My husband and I are both full-time working professionals with two young children enrolled full-time at Trinity. Without the help of the grant, we would be paying close to $2,000 per month in childcare—an amount that would be unaffordable for us.”

Another parent described the assistance as a source of financial breathing room.

“We are so thankful for the United Way grant. It helps offset the cost for us to send our child to daycare and allows us to more easily afford our daily necessities. It’s amazing how much a little bit of help can really make a big difference in our lives.”

For families who don’t qualify for other childcare subsidies, the United Way grant can be especially important.

“The UW grant has been extremely beneficial to my family in covering childcare costs. We do not qualify for any other subsidy, and the UW has been able to offset some of these costs for us. Daycare is a huge expense, especially when multiple kids are attending, and any assistance is extremely helpful.”

Another parent emphasized the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children are cared for in a safe and supportive environment.

“Receiving the United Way grant has provided financial relief for my family. The financial assistance allows us to balance work and family responsibilities without the burden of high daycare expenses. Trinity Christian Daycare has always been a safe, nurturing and educational place for my children.”

Trinity Christian Daycare’s providers keep preschoolers busy with arts and crafts, proudly displaying the children’s artwork on classroom walls.

Growing Challenges for Childcare Providers

At the same time, childcare providers like Trinity are facing growing challenges. Rising minimum wage requirements increase payroll costs each year, and recruiting and retaining qualified staff remains difficult in an industry that is both demanding and deeply important.

Adding to the pressure, Allegany County’s childcare subsidy program has been unable to approve new low-income applications since April 2025 due to funding shortages. As a result, some families have reduced the number of days their children attend daycare and are paying privately.

Open seats in classrooms mean lost revenue for providers – and fewer childcare options for working families.

Supporting Families Across Generations

Despite these challenges, Trinity Christian Daycare continues to serve as a trusted resource for families in the community. For Link, the work is deeply personal.

“I remember teaching some of these parents when they were in preschool in this same building,” she said. “Now they’re bringing their own children here.”

She sees firsthand how childcare access affects families’ ability to work and support their households.

“Parents are struggling,” Link said. “We’re helping them keep their jobs by providing safe and reliable child care. Many families have two children enrolled here. Funding from United Way helps keep those kids enrolled – without it, we would need to turn them away.”

For families across the region, support from United Way donors helps ensure children have a safe place to learn and grow while their parents keep our community running.

Learn more about Trinity Christian Daycare: