In 2003, Blacksburg residents from local faith groups joined forces to see if there was a way to address some of the New River Valley's pressing social needs on an interfaith basis. The group quickly identified the plight of low-income working parents with infant and toddler children, who had few or no choices of good, affordable places to leave their children while they worked. At the most critical time in their development, many of the youngest and poorest in our Valley were missing out on experiences that could make the difference in their ability to succeed in kindergarten and in life.
The group began publicizing this issue, and found immediate and heartfelt responses for the vision of offering high-quality, affordable, fully state-licensed care to the children of low-income working families of the Valley. Recognizing that people of different faiths may have different theological outlooks, the founders discerned that all traditions come together in their love of children and their belief that the community wants to help struggling families care for the youngest. Board members and friends have come from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, and Baha'i communities.
Valley Interfaith Child Care Centers, Inc (VICCC) was formally organized early in 2004. A Board of Directors was formed, 501(c) (3) status as a not-for-profit organization was granted and financial support was strong. Contributions from a community that recognized the need began coming in, and before the end of 2004 almost $100,000 was raised. In mid-2004 VICCC formed a partnership with New River Community Head Start. Two empty rooms in the Christiansburg Head Start center became two bright and happy classrooms by November 2004. Our first site opened!
With important support from the Town of Blacksburg via their committment of Community Development Block Grant funds, with a talented and loving staff, and with the continued support of people whose vision is nothing less than the transformation of our future, the second VICCC site opened in Blacksburg in February 2006, at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church.
Click here to read our organization's by-laws (revised January 2008).
VICCC is changing lives for the better, one child and one family at a time. To date, about 75 children have benefitted from this vision.
VICCC believes a society that values its own future must care for its youngest and most vulnerable members. Because children' cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development begins at birth, VICCC strives to make their earliest and most formative experiences positive and rewarding. With support from governments, local social service agencies, civic groups, businesses, academia, individuals, and New River Valley faith communities, VICCC's goal is to create high-quality, affordable, educational, and nurturing care for ALL of very young children (ages 0 -4) of income-eligible working families in the New River Valley
VICCC's new center at 948 Heather Drive in Blacksburg, inside the Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren, combines the services formerly offered at its first two centers in Christiansburg and Blacksburg. As a result VICCC is able to serve more families and provide care for more infants, which is an especially critical community need.
The center is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adults in the household must be working at least 20 hours per week and the family's income must meet certain guidelines.
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