11-04-2025
Our Shepherd Childcare set to close May 30 with about 100 childcare spots at risk
Our Shepherd Childcare, 3335 N. Lynndale Drive, Appleton, announced April 9 that will close due to "current market conditions."
Bethany Lutheran Church, which owns the child care center, said in the announcement it hopes to find a buyer for Our Shepherd. But if no one steps up, the center will close May 30.
Bethany Lutheran Church didn't return the Post-Crescent's request for comment.
The center had a licensed capacity of 135 children, ages 6 weeks through 12 years, according to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
A parent of twin 1-year-olds and a 3-year-old at the center, Carissa Paul, said that she was both sad and frustrated when she learned about the closure. She only has child care options now because she kept spots on other waitlists from 18 months ago — before her twins were born.
She said she felt for families that face longer waits for care and urged community leaders and employers to show empathy and understanding to them.
"Families are doing everything they can to stay afloat in a system that's offering them very few options," she added.
The announcement follows closely on the heels of an uncertain future for the childcare center at the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley, with another 40 childcare spaces gone if that center closes. The university will close at the end of the school year.
More broadly, according to a recent survey by the Department of Wisconsin Children and Families and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a quarter of child care centers in Wisconsin are more likely to close their doors if stabilization payments through the Child Care Counts program end.
Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at rloroff@
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Our Shepherd Childcare set to close if it can't find a buyer by May 30
