In both 2007 and 2009, the Junior League of Saint Paul partnered with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EMHE) to provide much needed relief to two Twin Cities families.  JLSP is honored to support these efforts by providing volunteers and creating new spaces for these families.  In 2009, JLSP worked hands on creating a new daycare facility in the Morris family home and also donated books, games and other educational materials to help create a welcome space for children in the Saint Paul community.  In 2007, JLSP Members focused on a lower level play space for the Swenson-Lee family, a family of eight brought together unexpectedly after a domestic violence tragedy.

About the Morris Family

Sixteen years ago, Sandy Morris was pregnant with her first child and working as an early childhood education teacher. After the birth of her daughter, Sandy examined her daycare options and discovered that none of them met her standards. Sandy decided to quit her job and start her own affordable daycare for the Saint Paul community. She offers a multicultural environment to these children, who affectionately call her "Tia Sandy." Sandy's dedication to her daycare and her community has produced one of the best daycares in the city.

Unfortunately, Sandy runs her daycare out of their 100-year-old home, which is falling apart. The numerous repairs needed to make the home safe threaten to shut down the daycare. The Junior League of Saint Paul is honored to be a part of helping build the Morris family a safe home that is a sanctuary for their family, while also enabling Sandy's daycare to remain a center of community life and education.

Continuing Our Commitment to Build Bonds

Helping the Morris family maintain a safe and healthy environment where children can learn and play together, personifies JLSP's goal of building bonds between caregiver and child. JLSP helps foster the growth of these relationships throughout our community with our current initiative Building Bonds Through Reading and Play.

Learn more about our community projects: Library Kids and Saint Paul Plays!