BEMUS POINT — Two members of the Bemus Point community have started a survey to look into local daycare needs.

Whitney Gleason and her sister-in-law Courteny Rappole have begun an online survey, which can be found at https://tinyurl.com/bde76meb in order to determine the full scope of what the daycare needs of the Bemus Point community might be, and the best way to help those needs.

“After hearing from so many family, friends, and even experiencing it personally we believe that finding quality, reliable childcare is a growing challenge in our region,” Gleason said. “Although the options that we do have are wonderful, we often hear about extremely long waitlists or having to drive a long way, sometimes in the opposite direction of work, in order to find care.”

She added that talking with family and friends can only go so far, saying that she and Rappole wanted to put out this survey in hopes of getting a better idea of what the actual specific needs are and to better understand the scopes and specifics of those needs. The goal of this survey is to listen, learn and explore how to best help meet this need in a way that is truly beneficial for local children and families.

“This survey is our first step in gathering input directly from the community,” Rappole said. “Before moving forward with any plans or programs, we want to ensure we’re hearing from as many voices as possible. Your feedback will help us understand what families need most–whether that’s infant care, extended hours, affordability, or other factors–and how we can build something that truly serves.”

This is the chance for anyone who has experienced a long waitlist, struggled to find reliable care or wished there were better options nearby to have their voices heard, they said.

“By participating in the survey, you’re helping shape potential solutions for our whole community,” Rappole said. “Your input could directly influence the development of a new daycare center or resources that better support local families.”

The survey will be open throughout the summer to give families plenty of time to share their thoughts, and after that the plan is for Gleason and Rappole to look at how many responses they have and if they have received enough data they will carefully review the responses and begin exploring potential next steps.

“We’re doing this because we care,” Gleason said. “We’re not rushing in–we’re starting with listening. We want to make sure that any solution we pursue is truly rooted in what this community needs most.”

The survey was noted to be just the beginning, and whether or not the two women move forward with opening a daycare center on their own, they said they will remain committed to being a part of the conversation and working to improve childcare access in the local area.