Norfolk Little People’s Daycare needs community votes

Norfolk Little People’s Daycare Inc. has been named one of three finalists in the 2024 BASF Growing Home contest.

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The winner will receive $25,000.

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Growing Home is a BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions initiative which supports organizations that are “the lifeblood of their rural communities,” BASF Canada stated in a media release.

“It’s the first year they’re running the contest in Ontario,” said Candice Vanhie, president of the Norfolk Little People’s Daycare board of directors. “The way I read it, the whole point of the contest is to help grow organizations in rural communities that help the communities grow. It’s their way to give back to their customers – the farmers.”

Online voting is open to the public – anyone can cast a vote at agro.basf.ca/growinghome/voting.html. The voting period closes April 15 and winners will be announced April 30. Unofficial results can be tracked on Instagram and X through BASF Growing Home.

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“You just put in your email address and cast the vote.”

Norfolk Little People’s Daycare (NLPD), based in Langton, is a non-profit centre. Established in 1985, it draws about 75 children from the Langton area and as far away as Norwich, Tillsonburg and Simcoe.

They also run school-age programs – summer, March Break and Christmas holiday camps, as well as PA Day programs – each averaging about 40 kids in addition to the 75 at the center every day. Th3e center also runs before and after-school programs, serving students from nearby Sacred Heart School and Langton Public School.

“It’s pretty big for little Langton,” Vanhie said. “As small as Langton is, we do pull from quite a large geographic area.”

If Norfolk Little People’s Daycare gets enough online votes from the community to win the contest, Vanhie said the $25,000 would allow them to extend the daycare’s educational program. Some of the funds would be used to take the children to local farms and markets, teaching them about agriculture and where food comes from.

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“We’re so fortunate to live in such a rich part of Ontario when you talk about agriculture… they call it Ontario’s Garden. When you look at all the different fruits and vegetables and commodities that are grown here, it would be so cool to share that with the families and the children.”

Providing a hands-on learning experience would be a focus.

“We would like to purchase ‘grow tables’ where the kids can plant their own seeds, water it, watch it grow, then pick the produce they grew themselves. Getting their hands dirty and, again, teaching them where food comes from.

“We feel that educating people in agriculture is huge, especially young kids. But without funds like this, it just wouldn’t be possible for us to do that type of educational hands-on learning… allowing us to go above and beyond what your typical education program is.”

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The two other Ontario finalists, both from small rural communities, are Highgate District Agricultural Society, organizers of a fair for 170 years, and Three Oaks Respite Cabin, a facility in Florence where farmers and first responders find refuge from stress and anxiety.

As of Monday, April 9, Norfolk Little People’s Daycare trailed its competitors, but Vanhie hopes for a late push as word spreads about the contest.

“We would be appreciative of any votes, for little Langton – and Norfolk – to compete,” said Vanhie.

Norfolk Little People’s Daycare is hosting a touch-a-truck fundraiser on Saturday, April 13 – two days before the voting deadline – in the Langton arena parking lot from 10 am – 2 pm with food trucks, face painting, 4-H animals, bouncy castles and more than 30 pieces of equipment and vehicles, including fire, police and ambulance vehicles, an electric crane truck, transport and garbage trucks, concrete mixer, and farm machinery. Admission is $5.

“It’s going to be a pretty awesome day. Last year we had about 800 people show up for our first one, so we’re hoping for a good turnout.”

The BASF contest is also offered in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Each province’s winner receives a $25,000 BASF Canada investment.

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