10 years old and still going strong: Kaleidoscope Child Care

Tucked behind her desk in a cluttered basement office, Moreen Shell turned to her sidekick for an answer.

Tucked behind her desk in a cluttered basement office, Moreen Shell turned to her sidekick for an answer.

Without Julie Brewer’s assistance, Shell admits the job would be nearly impossible to do.

“Where I’m soft, she’s hard,” Shell said of her longtime business partner and friend. “We complement each other very well. I couldn’t do any of this without Julie. She’s believed in the business like I have. We’ve gone through some tough times, but we’ve held it together.”

Under the duo’s leadership, Kaleidoscope Child Care continues to be a part of family life in the Auburn area. By offering flexible, customized schedules to fit the needs of today’s working families, Kaleidoscope has found success and survivability.

And that’s saying much in today’s challenging small business climate.

Shell has experienced difficult times, yet kept the faith and the doors open.

“I wasn’t getting paid there for a long time,” she said. “I knew God would take care of me, and He did.”

Kaleidoscope has persevered. On Monday, one of Auburn’s longest-running child care centers will turn 10 years old.

For Shell, it has been a labor of love ever since she began her own in-home care service before eventually opening a spot on Auburn Way South.

Today, the center handles 30 part- and full-time children, ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. The center, which employs a staff of nine, is open 5:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday.

“I love what I do. I love seeing what we do to help families and children,” Shell said. “They keep me going. They brighten up your day.”

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KALEIDOSCOPE CHILD CARE

• Party: 10-year anniversary celebration: Monday, 7-9 a.m., 3-6 p.m.

• Location: 924 Auburn Way S., Auburn

• On the menu: Snacks provided by Sam’s Club. Parents can sign up or

renew club memberships.

• More information: 253-833-8344