by SUSUMC Communications

Growing Friends, the childcare and preschool ministry of Winterstown United Methodist Church, was named the 2026 Official York/Hanover Community Choice Award winner for Best Daycare. It was the program’s first win after finishing second in 2025.

That second-place finish became motivation for the Growing Friends team to keep doing what they do best: caring for children, supporting families, and serving their community. And it’s a reminder of why sharing the ministries happening in our churches matters. The more people know about these ministries, the more opportunities there are for the wider community to recognize and connect with them.

Voting for the Community Choice Awards began in April, when the public nominated the businesses and organizations they believed were worthy of recognition. The top five nominees advanced to a final round of voting in May. Growing Friends learned they had made it into the top three and were invited to the awards gala on July 7. They didn’t learn they had won, however, until their name was announced that evening.

Growing Friends has been a part of the community for 28 years, currently serving approximately 90 children from more than 50 families. The program serves children from 6 weeks old through sixth grade.

That kind of longevity builds trust. For nearly three decades, Growing Friends has continued to show up day after day to care for some of the youngest and most vulnerable members of the community.

But what makes Growing Friends special isn’t simply what they do. It’s how they do it.

Family is at the heart of the program. Staff members aren’t simply employees; they care for one another and look out for one another. Families are also invited into the life and development of the center through parent questionnaires and opportunities to offer feedback and ideas. Special events, such as Grandparents and Grand Friends Day, create opportunities for the people who are important to each child to become part of the Growing Friends community.

In other words, Growing Friends isn’t simply a place where children are cared for while their parents are at work. It’s a community built around relationships with children, families, and one another.

That emphasis on relationships is also shaped by Growing Friends’ connection to Winterstown UMC. Each week, the children spend time with the pastor for story time - an opportunity for them to get to know one another, have fun, and build a relationship with the pastor from an early age.

That connection extends across generations. Older children make cards for church members who are homebound, whether for birthdays or holidays, giving them a tangible way to connect with and care for members fo the church community.

For Growing Friends, the away isn’t ultimately about the prestige. It’s about the recognition of a community that has placed its trust in the people who care for its children every day.

“We are absolutely humbled by this award!” said Pastor Erin Elong. “Seeing the competitors we were up against and how big their organizations are truly means the world to us, and we know that we have the best staff, families, and kids!”

The team remains thrilled by the recognition. “We cannot describe how truly honored we are to receive this award and display it proudly in our center!” Elong said. “It has been a few weeks since the Gala and we are still on cloud nine and tickled pink!”

That community support is evident in another way: Growing Friends’ waiting lists are currently closed because of their length. The program is still accepting infants and 3-year-olds for its half-day preschool program, but otherwise, families are waiting for an opening.

And the team isn’t resting on its recognition.

This fall, they will host their first-ever Maker’s Market, bringing various vendors to the center along with face painting, food trucks, and other activities. Looking further ahead, the program is exploring grant opportunities to make its playground ADA accessible, creating a more inclusive space for children with disabilities.

Growing Friends may have been named the best daycare in York and Hanover, but the award is ultimately a celebration of something much bigger: 28 years of caring for and nurturing children and families, building relationships and showing up for the community.

It’s a story about supporting families, investing in staff, and living out the church’s connection to its neighbors. In many ways, Growing Friends offers a beautiful example of what it means for the church to be not simply in the community, but for the community.