Why we built Village Acres
A note from the family behind the platform.
A few years ago, we found ourselves standing in our kitchen with a newborn, a toddler, and a question we couldn't seem to answer:
Where is our village?
Like so many families today, we were raising children far from grandparents and extended family. Our friends were juggling their own busy lives. We didn't need a staffing agency or another app filled with strangers. We needed the kind of support that previous generations often took for granted — trusted people nearby who cared, who wanted to help, and who were part of a real community.
We knew those people existed.
- —The retired teacher who misses being around children.
- —The grandmother whose grandchildren live in another state.
- —The experienced parent who remembers how overwhelming the early years can be.
- —The college student home for the summer looking for meaningful ways to spend their time.
The problem wasn't that these people didn't exist. The problem was that families had no way to find them.
We looked at the major childcare platforms, but something felt missing. They were designed to help people hire workers. We wanted a way to build relationships. We imagined a different kind of platform — one that helped families connect with trusted people already woven into their communities through neighborhoods, schools, synagogues, churches, and local networks.
- —A place where trust comes first.
- —A place where community matters.
- —A place where families could find their village again.
So we built Village Acres. And we started right here in Palm Beach County, the place we call home.
— Mike & Jordana Kahn
Founders, Village Acres
Meet the family
What we're here to do
Village Acres exists for one reason: to make it easier for Palm Beach County families to find Villagers they can actually trust - community members already part of their neighborhood, not strangers from a national database.
We're not trying to be the biggest platform in the country. We're trying to be the most trusted one in your neighborhood.
Why we vet everyone
When one of our neighbors tells us, “I'd trust her with my kids,” that means something. That's the bar we hold ourselves to.
Every Villager who joins Village Acres is personally reviewed by our team before their profile goes live. We verify they're local, confirm their identity through social profiles, and review the profile for authenticity. If something feels off, the profile doesn't get approved. It's that simple.
This isn't a process we built to check a box. It's the process we'd want for our own kids. Because for us, it's not just policy - it's personal.
Identity & location verified
We confirm every Villager is local to Palm Beach County and verify their identity through social profiles before approval.
Manual profile review
A real person on our team reviews every profile. We look at experience, photos, and how they've described themselves. No rubber-stamping.
Local only - by design
We only serve Palm Beach County. That means our Villagers are genuinely local, not imported from somewhere else to fill a slot.
What we believe in
The values that shape every decision we make.
Trust is earned, not assumed
We don't let anyone list themselves on Village Acres. Every profile is reviewed because trust has to be earned - and we owe that to the families who rely on us.
Local means something
There's a difference between a stranger from across the country and someone who goes to your synagogue or picks their kids up at the same school. We believe in that difference.
Families come first
Every feature we build, we ask: does this make it easier and safer for families? If the answer is no, we don't build it. This platform exists for parents and kids - full stop.
No hidden costs, no surprises
Families pay a flat $5/month to browse Villagers. Joining as a Villager is always free to get started. We don't take booking fees or commissions. What you see is what you get.