“Them that’s got shall have
Them that’s not will lose
So the Bible said, it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child that’s got his own
That’s got his own…”
-as performed by Billie Holiday
Susan Geist Hoffman, 57, works in the engineering department for ComEd. She has been with the company nearly 37 years. She also operates a not-for-profit day care center in Lowell which is located on the property her house sits on.
**
“I grew up in Chicago Heights, Ill., Hoffman began. “I moved here when my oldest daughter was born 26 years ago. I took her from the hospital right to this house. This is where I raised my three daughters, with the exception of the two years we were forced to live in an apartment. There was a house fire here.
“Actually, I had four daughters. I lost my third-born child to spina bifida when she eight months old. Her name was Brooke. That’s why I opened Brookside Christian Academy. The name is in honor of my deceased daughter.”
Is Geist your first husband’s surname?
“Yes. He had some issues. We divorced when my girls were 7, 5 and 2. He never paid a dime child support and never asked for visitation.”
Hoffman?
“He’s the guy who fixed my siding. He just kept coming back. I told him that I was on a really strict budget. I wanted to know how much I owed him. He told me not to worry about it. I told him I had to worry about it. I had to know what it was costing me. He told me: ‘Just buy the material and take me out to eat.’ I said: ‘I can do that.’ Then we started dating. You know, old people dating. About eight months later, we were married. That was in 2013.”
Tell me about this house.
“It was built in 1889. It’s one of the oldest houses in the community. This was called the Putnam Farm back then. They raised sheep here. The day care center was once a barn. You can see the windmill out back.”
How many square-feet is the day care center?
“About 4,000. I used to lease the building out many years ago to Lowell Childcare, but it ended up getting trashed. In 2010, I decided to make this place something for the Lord. Well, it just all fell into place.”
How many children are here at a time?
“Anywhere from 75 to 85.”
Ages?
“From six weeks to age 12.”
How much do you charge?
“It depends upon what days and the services they need. Sometimes we have just before care where we feed the children breakfast and take them to school. Sometimes it’s just after school where we’ll help them with their homework until the parents pick them up. There are some who are three days a week. We have some who go full time. It varies. We try supply our clients with whatever they need.
“We try to offer families a discount if they can’t afford it. If you can’t quite pay the standard fee, bring milk or paper towels. We’ll help you get back on your feet and watch your child in a good, safe, loving environment.”
And it’s all not-for-profit?
“I don’t get a paycheck. I pay my staff. We pay the bills. The only method we have for revenue is by enrollment. Sometimes our enrollment drops in the summer, but usually we have a waiting list.”
Employees?
“We have 11 fantastic ladies here including my oldest daughter who serves as director. They don’t get paid a lot of money. They do it because they love children. They are good at what they do. They’re good souls. That’s God’s work.”
Continue, please.
“Some of the children we’ve taken in are from grandparents who are raising them because of drug addiction. We have a lot of that. We also have an agreement with the school where we watch the babies of teenage mothers so they can go back to get their high school education. I don’t charge them. Whatever the state pays us, that’s what we take.
“There are a lot of young fellas who have shared-custody of their babies and are very attentive fathers. They’re going to school while working at gas stations or wherever, trying to support their children. We bend over backwards for people who are trying. We have a lot of low income families.”
You’ve walked in those shoes.
“I’ve walked in those shoes. I have struggled as a single mom with three children, trying to be there, do everything, meet all their needs, no child support. That’s tough. That is a tough, tough, gig to do. And I don’t wish that on anybody.
“We love to make the child’s life better. We want the child to come in and have a happy day regardless if that child has fancy clothes or not. We want the child to have a healthy meal. We want these children to feel good about themselves, learn some things, and say a few prayers.”
Final thoughts?
“You know what? I could make money at this. But somebody has to help people who are in the position that I was in. Thank God, I had a great job. I have people who can’t afford to put gas in their car. I’ll give them gas money. I’ve put two ladies through phlebotomy school and CNA training because they were from abusive homes. They were battered women who went to shelters. They bring their children here.”
**
Susan told me they are always open for monetary donations at Brookside Christian Academy, but they’ll gladly accept toys, paper and craft materials.
On May 19, ComEd is honoring Susan Geist Hoffman in Chicago. It’s part of their National Volunteer Month. In addition to the public recognition she will receive, Susan and Brookside Christian Academy will receive a $10,000 grant.
Old man Putnam raised sheep on that parcel of land in Lowell. More than 125 years later, the women of Brookside continue nourishing and tending to the lambs.
God’s work.
More information on Brookside: 219-696-6128
Jeff Manes is a freelance columnist for the Post-Tribune.
