Freedom for Youth Children’s Center: More Space for the Children of our Neighborhood

After 20 years of service to our community, Freedom for Youth Ministries serves nearly 150 students on an average week during the school year with Christ-centered programs—but we can do so much more. 

The Freedom Children’s Center will more than double our capacity by adding a neighborhood preschool for children aged four and five, creating dedicated spaces for more middle and high school students, and providing each student group with its own area for age-appropriate activities, including an inclusive playground.*

The new Freedom for Youth Children’s Center will more than double our student capacity - from 125 students per week to nearly 500 students per week - and expand our program to meet the needs of preschoolers and their families in our central Des Moines neighborhood.

We’ve always looked for God’s timing on this project. The land on which the Children’s Center is to be built—once the site of a crime-ridden tavern—was acquired with the help of a church partner in 2016, and the construction budget was $2 million. Fundraising continued over the next six years.

Our board of directors heard God’s call and broke ground on the 7,600-square-foot facility in July 2023. Changes required by the city, changes to meet changing Ministry needs, and inflation grew the budget to $3 million but additional donations of material and labor by generous contractors and suppliers are helping save money at every turn.

What’s Next?

God answered prayers with a handful of generous partners who miraculously stepped up in our time of need to fully fund Phase 1 of the Children’s Center. HVAC and electrical have been installed inside the building, exterior stone work and siding is complete, the front entryway and canopy have been installed, and ramps and sidewalks are to be poured soon. Interior drywall materials have been donated and will be installed soon, along with doors, hardware, cabinets, and interior trim.  

If you feel called to support the project and help us finish well, donate online here, and select CHILDREN’S CENTER when asked to designate your donation. If you have questions about the project, contact Emmanuel Caraballo, Executive Director, by email at ecaraballo@freedomforyouth.org or by phone at 515-282-4822, ext. 1042