By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Clanton First Assembly of God is updating its nursery facilities to be safer and more accommodating to parents and their children.

The church has added a door to a previously open hallway, installed security cameras and will soon add an electronic check-in station.

“We do everything possible … to make the children comfortable,” nursery coordinator Julie Brown said. “We’ve seen the need to widen our facilities for growth and security. We want parents to feel alright about leaving their children [in our care].”

The church is doing the project bit by bit, paying for phases as they come. The nursery is now about double its original size and even has a bathroom with a tiny toilet and sink for children to use.

The next phase includes an electronic check-in station that will be a security gateway into the nursery. Children’s bags and bottles will be labeled to indicate who can pick them up, what allergies they might have and any other relevant information.

The station will be the only way anyone is allowed in the nursery. There are two doors reserved as exits from the nursery facility in case of emergency.

“Our greatest responsibility is to ensure the safety of our kids,” Pastor Randy Reed said. “Unfortunately, we live in a world where we have to do that. We want it to be a nice, fun environment without the children feeling like they’re in a lockdown.”

Reed estimated the church has spent about $8,000 thus far on renovations and will have spent $12-15,000 total when the project is complete. He estimated that two-thirds of the money was from fundraising and the rest is from the general budget.

The church will sell Swamp John’s Seafood plates on Feb. 22 to raise funds for the next phase of nursery renovations.

Plates can be purchased at the church on Feb. 22 for $13 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are available to purchase ahead of time. Contact the church at 205-755-7844 for more information.