As we welcome 2026, I’m filled with excitement about the transformative year ahead for our community. Just months ago, we broke ground on the new SAL Community Services early care and education center in Rock Island, which will be home to a new Skip-a-Long Childhood Center. This project represents both the strength of our past and the promise of a bright, community-focused future. And, it will meet a critical community-wide need.
The new year brings with it the perfect opportunity to reflect on what’s possible when a community unites around children and families. This new 32,500-square-foot campus will soon be home to 12 bright classrooms, innovative intergenerational learning spaces shared with Friendship Manor, and opportunities for teachers to grow their careers in an environment that reflects the highest standards of quality and care.
At SAL, we’ve been part of this neighborhood and community for more than 55 years. We’ve seen generations of children take their first steps in our classrooms, and we’ve seen parents gain the stability and confidence to build better futures for their families. This new campus builds on that legacy. The campus is founded on the same values of equity, opportunity, and care that have guided us from the beginning. Those values are setting the tone for the year ahead.
One of the most exciting aspects of this project is our partnership with Friendship Manor. Together, we’re creating something truly unique: a model of intergenerational learning that brings children and seniors together to read, play, and learn side by side. As a mother, I know the deep impact of having older generations involved in a child’s life. This initiative captures that same spirit of connection and mutual growth and affirms our belief that community care stretches across generations.
The campaign supporting this effort – Building a Brighter Future: The Campaign for Rock Island Families – has raised $12.9 million toward our $15.7 million goal. As we enter this new year, that progress reflects the strength of this community and the belief that investing in children is one of the wisest and most powerful investments we can make. Every dollar helps build not only classrooms and playgrounds but also confidence, resilience, and opportunity.
Our community’s story has always been one of perseverance and partnership. This new center, built with the support of many local partners – including Friendship Manor, Olivet Church, Estes Construction, and our engineering team at IMEG – shows what happens when we come together with a shared purpose.
As we begin 2026, I’m reminded of the faces I saw at our groundbreaking. It was a group of people who care deeply about this community. I saw hope. I saw collaboration. I saw the future of the Quad Cities standing before me. What better way to start a new year than by building something that will serve our families for generations to come?
Marcy Mendenhall is president and CEO of SAL Community Services, a regional nonprofit that strengthens children, families, and individuals to build and enhance thriving communities across a 17-county footprint from the Quad Cities to Peoria.
