A group in the Rural Municipality of North Norfolk is rallying to bolster an essential service in the community.

The North Norfolk Childcare Centre is aiming to provide a government, not for profit child care centre for the region. Community Liaison Samantha Rodgers explains their progress so far.

"We put together a board of members in the North Norfolk Municipality, and it's mostly a bunch of parents that are on the board. We're trying to put together a business, and we're just in the initial stages of registering our name and doing the licensing."

Recently, the MacGregor Chamber of Commerce released a survey about childcare to better understand the needs of parents in the area. Rodgers works at a local care home, and she says she's noticed a large gap in childcare.

"There's a lot of young people around that need childcare who aren't able to get it in this area or have a difficult time finding childcare," she says. "I know we have some girls from work that are driving to Portage to drop their kids off at 6 a.m. to make it back for work at 7 a.m."

Recently, the committee hosted a garage sale with funds going toward startup fees for the daycare. The group is also hosting a Christmas craft sale in MacGregor on November 13. Rodgers says they are blown away from all the responses they've received.

"We're just amazed by all the support we've gotten from the community and starting this daycare. I am hopeful for what's going to be in progress."

You can find the North Norfolk Childcare Centre Facebook Page here.