New Early Childhood Assistance Program Launches In Honor Of Shannon And Maggie June Hubbard

ORLEANS – There’s a new resource for Cape Cod families struggling to pay the rising costs of early childhood care. All Moms are Heroes, the nonprofit organization launched to honor the late Shannon Hubbard and her daughter Maggie June, is now accepting applications for its new Fall Early Childhood Care Assistance Program.

 Founder Tim Waldron said the program is designed to support local families in the “missing middle”— those who earn too much to qualify for traditional assistance but still struggle with the rising costs of early childhood care.

 “As the cost of care continues to rise, many families find themselves without access to the support they need,” he said. “This new program aims to bridge that gap and give more children a strong start, regardless of income eligibility.”

 Applications are open now through Aug. 15. Eligible families can apply for financial assistance to help cover the cost of eligible preschool or child care centers. Applicants must be residents of Barnstable County and have a youngster who will be under the age of 3 on or before Aug. 31. Applicants must not qualify for existing federal or state childcare subsidies. A preference may be given to families where one or both parents are educators, first responders, or health care workers. Decisions on funding will be announced by Sept. 1. Full details and an application are available at www.AllMomsAreHeroes.com/application.

 “We are thrilled to be able to offer assistance to young families at this time,” Waldron said. “Our original goal when we started the charity was to be able to provide financial aid in 2026. But the outpouring of community support — the work of other groups like Mom Prom and Rock Nite, and the tireless effort of our volunteers — has pushed that timeline up by a year. We couldn’t be more pleased to be able to give back to the friends and neighbors that have been so supportive of our family over the last nine months.”

 All Moms Are Heroes was founded in honor of Shannon Hubbard and her daughter, Maggie. A devoted mother, Shannon was a teacher at Harwich Elementary and Chatham Elementary, and was a fierce advocate for early childhood education. They perished in a fire at a vacation rental in New York last October.

 This year, All Moms are Heroes is focused on grants helping with early childhood care, but Waldon said the program may be expanded in the future to include preschool tuition for children ages 4 to 5 who don’t receive town support, and grants for enrichment programs like art, dance, theater, physical education and summer camp. Learn more at www.AllMomsAreHeroes.com.