Mom's House, a daycare center in Upstate New York, may reopen thanks to students from Binghamton University.
In September, the daycare facility on Harry L. Drive in Johnson City was flooded and water rose to its ceiling. The daycare serves single parents who are pursuing an education.
Four Binghampton University students entered a video about Mom's House to an online voting competition sponsored by the Learning by Giving Foundation. The foundation had provided money for a class the students took on philanthropy before the flood. During that class, the students had learned about the services provided by Mom's House.
"It was the fact that they're helping single parents who do want their education," said junior Katelyn Laverich, a biochemistry major. "Being a college student, I couldn't even imagine being a single parent with a kid and trying to go through all your homework and stuff like that."
Said Laura Bowen, executive director of Mom's House: "It's very gratifying and humbling to know that people in this community care so much about our mission and what we're doing. And that they want to help."
Bowen says over $400,000 will be needed to rebuild, including a new second floor for the boiler, utilities and document storage. She says whatever FEMA doesn't pay for will be raised from local foundations and individuals.