By Salena Laskowski
Executive Director Crawford AuSable Day Care
GRAYLING- Standing among family, friends, Mt. Hope congregation, and community supporters, I was filled with gratitude as we celebrated a milestone many thought would take decades — paying off our $470,000 mortgage in just five years.
Crawford AuSable Day Care (CADC) began in 1980 in the old Sportsmen’s Club on Old Lake Rd., serving Grayling families with care and love. As demand grew, Mt. Hope Lutheran Church became a partner in faith, helping us build a new childcare center.
That dream came true in 2020, when we opened our 6,000-square-foot facility and 2,400-square-foot pavilion, doubling capacity and reopening our Infant and Toddler program. Mt. Hope owns the building and leases it to CADC at cost, allowing us to focus on children and families.
Timeline of our journey:
• 2020: Opened our new center.
•2021: Stayed open through COVID challenges.
• 2022: Enrollment and programs expanded.
• 2023: Celebrated 40 years of service from Miss Marsha and record community support.
• 2024: “Pay Off the Mortgage” campaign soared, boosted by a $100,000 gift honoring Steve Koch, whose vision helped make this dream real.
• 2025: Debt-free at last.
This achievement reflects the power of faith, partnership, and community. To every parent, teacher, donor, and volunteer—thank you. And to Mt. Hope Lutheran Church, your belief that childcare is ministry made this miracle possible.
As we burned the mortgage, we celebrated not just freedom from debt, but the legacy we’ve built together, and a foundation for generations of children to come.
