When it comes to caring for kids, Sherrie Dilly knows what matters most. With more than 10 years of experience building child care programs, the Director of Day Care at Friendly House puts her heart into her work, finding that the rewards far outweigh the challenges.
“I love knowing that these kids have a safe place to go,” she says. “I love seeing them smile and learning new things, and I love that the families know their children are safe with us.”
Situated in the middle of a large neighborhood in west Davenport, Friendly House serves children, families, and seniors through a number of programs aimed at meeting the basic needs of people in the surrounding area. From child care to food pantries to senior support, Friendly House stands at the center of the community, and without it, the people of this community — especially the children — would suffer.
“Families are struggling,” Sherrie says. “They’re struggling to feed their kids, to teach their kids, to buy diapers and toothbrushes and hats and gloves. A lot of the kids come back from the weekend extra hungry, and we do everything we can to make sure there is extra food for them.”
That task is made a bit easier because of the relationship between River Bend Food Bank and Friendly House.
“I order food for the day care from River Bend first because my dollars go so much further than they do with any other vendor,” Sherrie shares. “I also get free produce that they love, and what we don’t use in the day care gets repurposed and put upstairs for the whole community.”
During the summer months when the enrollment doubles and the demand for food does the same, the kids at Friendly House take pride in providing some of their own food.
“We have a master gardener who comes and helps the kids plant and tend a garden,” Sherrie says. “When I first arrived at this job they asked me, ‘Miss Sherrie, do you want some potatoes?’ And then they went right out to the garden and started digging in the dirt. It brings them so much joy.”
But even with their summer garden, it still takes extra effort to provide what the kids need.
“This is one of my favorite things about River Bend Food Bank — the free produce I can bring back. All of my families love when it’s River Bend day because they know I’ll come back with fresh food and produce, with things they actually want to eat.”
And this is why we do what we do. So kids like these can eat and so people like Sherrie can help feed them.
Your ongoing support goes a long way! Every $1 provides 5 meals, making it possible for us to keep the shelves stocked all summer long.
