Nick Shirley Video Highlights Day Care Centers Receiving $6.3 Million from Feeding Our Future

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Several daycares featured in a viral YouTube video by Nick Shirley have not faced formal fraud allegations, but they have been linked to various violations according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. These daycares, which gained attention for different reasons, have been under scrutiny for their operational practices.

One such daycare is the Quality Learning Center, highlighted in the video for its misspelled sign. According to the state's website, this center had 121 violations over the past three years. The most recent issues included areas used by children that were in disrepair. This raises concerns about the safety and quality of care provided to the children.

As reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune, several of these daycares received funding through Feeding our Future, an organization whose leader was convicted of facilitating the theft of $240 million in taxpayer dollars during the pandemic. This connection has sparked further questions about the legitimacy of the funds and how they were used.

According to KARE 11's records, Minnesota Best Childcare, located in an unmarked building, received $1.5 million from Feeding our Future. The organization claimed to serve 702,000 meals to children. Similarly, the Quality Learning Center received $509,000, claiming to serve 208,000 meals. Another now-closed daycare, Mako Daycare, also received $1.5 million, with a claim of serving 626,000 meals.

In total, five current and two closed daycares featured by Shirley received $6.3 million from Feeding our Future between 2018 and 2021. These funds were claimed to support 2.8 million meals for children. Despite the significant amount of money involved, no one has been charged with a crime in this scheme.

One of the former Feeding our Future sites, ABC Learning Center, invited KARE 11 inside on Tuesday to show that children are present and to push back against Shirley's claims of fraud. The center's representatives aimed to counter the accusations made in the video.

KARE 11 confirmed that Republican House of Representatives staff provided the location of ABC Learning Center to Shirley's researcher, Dave Hoch, along with two other daycares. Hoch confirmed that they are planning to release another YouTube video on Sunday.

It is important to note that none of the daycares have received formal allegations of fraud, either through child care assistance or the Feeding our Future meal scheme. However, the discrepancies in the reported numbers and the lack of criminal charges have raised ongoing concerns about the transparency and accountability of these organizations.

The situation highlights the need for continued oversight and investigation into the operations of these daycares and the distribution of public funds. As more information comes to light, it remains crucial for the public to stay informed and hold those in charge accountable for their actions.