When Calvary Evangelical Presbyterian Church dissolved in December, one of its longtime ministries continued to thrive.

The day care center that housed 30-some children for 30-some years remained in operation in the building on East Diamond Street, which was purchased by Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church and renamed Grace @ Calvary

Lutheran Church.

With the space now needed by the current occupant, Calvary Daycare is busy remodeling a new home.

The day care center is leasing space in the former Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson Township. That building is now owned by Summit Presbyterian Church, which operates His Kids School in some of the rooms.

"We've been looking for different opportunities for people or ministries to fill that space," said Carol Novy, minister of Christian education at Summit Presbyterian and acting principal of the school. "So this just seemed like a wonderful fit."

Arlene Roth, director of Calvary Daycare, said she also anticipates positive results, even though the center's enrollment has dropped to about 15 since the pending move was announced.

Despite the new site, which is out of the way for many existing clients, Roth said she believes new families will enroll when the Jefferson Township facility opens in late August.

Since His Kids School offers part-time preschool and kindergarten classes, the day care center will allow a convenient place for children to go when the classes are not in session, she speculated.

"We really see it as two different needs we are going to be able to be meet," Novy agreed.

"A few parents, even with that commute, were willing to make it because they wanted to keep their children in our care," Roth said of those who will remain with Calvary despite the move.

Missy Arp of Butler, one such mother, will continue to take her 2-year-old son Bryce to Calvary, along with his brother, 3-month-old Matthew."Maybe it's a little out of our way … but it's worth the commute to us because Calvary has part-time care and part-time rates," Arp said of more typical full-time scheduling that allows day care centers to predict their monthly incomes.Arp said stable staffing at Calvary has also contributed to her decision to stay.Stacy George of Butler also said stability has been a factor in the decision to keep her 2-year-old son, Dade, at the center."He's used to all the women who work there," George said.Getting to know other children and their parents has added to the stability, she said. "It's so disheartening" to find another center.Since enrollment numbers are down, Roth said her providers are busy painting, cleaning and preparing the new site for occupancy.Parents like Arp and George can also be found onsite. Youth volunteers from Hill United Presbyterian Church were also helping out recently by painting walls and moving stacks of light fixtures that were stored in the soon-to-be day care rooms.Former Calvary pastor Mike Winship and his wife, Shirley, now serving as day care corporation officers, are also helping to renovate.In addition to donating their time, some parents - like Jill Swensen and Alex Wing - have also helped to gather donated items such as carpet, paint and linoleum, Roth said."There is just so much that is being donated and work done that it's just phenomenal," Roth said.The Rev. Tim Bupp, pastor at Grace @ Calvary Lutheran Church, said the existing day care space will be used as a youth center and to house coffee shop events for church members and the community.