by Matt Marquardt –
MASON CITY – Times are tough out there, we’ve all heard it over and over.
But it strikes closer to home when you see people in your own town inching by.
Right now, the Hoffrogge family of Mason City is staring these tough times in the face.
Mary Hoffrogge is a wife and a mom of four little girls. She contacted me and asked me to put out an SOS of sorts.
(PHOTO: Mary Hoffrogge and her husband Jeremy sit in front of their home with their four daughters: Kylie, 10; Destiny, 7; Britney, 3; and Mackenzie, 8 months.)
Right now Mary’s family is dealing with a number of issues, both financially and health-wise. Mary’s husband, Jeremy, recently lost his job and they have had issues with their bank over their home.
“It’s getting to the point where we don’t know where to turn next,” Mary said.
The Hoffrogge’s can’t afford daycare for their four girls so Mary is a stay at home mom. “I’d work at a job if I could, but it is so expensive, I would lose money,” she said.
Mary’s goal is to open a licensed, 24-hour daycare for lower income folks. She feels there is a need in the community for this service, and she could then stay with her kids and help provide for her family at the same time.
“I want to be with my kids,” she said, “and I love kids in general. And I think this kind of daycare would be a huge help to families who work long hours or overnights.”
Right now, Mary helps out a single mom when she can’t find anyone else to take in her kids. That woman drives all the way from Forest City to drop her two little girls off, then drives to Garner to work. She then drives all the way back to Mason City to pick her girls up to go home to Forest City.
“I’d like to offer a 24 hour daycare,” Mary said. “A lot of people could use that. People do work outside the 9 to 5 shift.”
The state requirements to run a licensed daycare are long (rightfully so). The state offers guidelines on how to get going with an in-home daycare. Read the state’s guidelines here.
With few resources, Mary says that fixing up her home and getting some of the necessary amenities for a great daycare are daunting.
“We need a fenced in yard, carpeting in some rooms, paint, and help with our roof,” she described. “Also just basics like diapers, napkins, those types of things.”
Mary asked if anyone out there would be willing to take a look at some of their needs, so that she might have a better chance to get licensed, her family would be most appreciative. She can be reached at 641-201-1426.
“If there’s anyone out there with advice or any type of help that can get me going in the right direction, I would be very appreciative,” Mary said. “This would help my family and other families as well.”
Watch video:
httpv://youtu.be/KCSjxSTg1ZA
