09/04/2026
💙 Childcare Keeps Cortland County Working
For 35 years, YWCA Cortland Here We Grow program has provided something local families simply cannot do without: safe, licensed, year-round child care and early education for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. The program serves more than 70 children each year while supporting parents and caregivers who need reliable care to work and provide for their families.
And the need is significant. According to YWCA Cortland, there is only enough licensed childcare in our community for about one-third of Cortland County’s children, with waitlists particularly affecting infant and toddler care. At the same time, the rising cost of providing licensed care has contributed to local childcare centers and in-home providers closing or reducing capacity.
Here We Grow helps fill that gap while doing much more than providing a place for children to spend the day. Children receive early learning opportunities, social-emotional development, nutritious meals, physical activity, developmental assessments, and connections to early-intervention services when additional support is needed.
This is why YOUR donation to United Way for Cortland County matters. 💛
Our Community Impact Funding helps programs like Here We Grow meet the real costs of keeping their doors open—including staffing, utilities, supplies, and everyday operating expenses.
When you give to our Annual Campaign, you’re not simply funding childcare:
You’re helping a child learn.
You’re helping a parent stay employed.
You’re helping a family remain financially stable.
And you’re helping keep an essential community resource in Cortland County!
