Cedar Hills Church partners with Sandpoint Head Start

Eighteen volunteers converge on a little school located on the corner of Pine and Euclid known as Head Start of Sandpoint. Flower beds overrun with weeds are attacked with a vengeance, replaced by Hostas and mulch. A tattered stretch of chain link is replaced by wood to match the existing fence. Leaky sand boxes are repaired, giant chalkboards are installed and an awesome roadway is constructed for toy cars to rumble down the straightway and screech around the turns. Now the parents have a bench to watch from as their children explore and socialize.

Serve Sandpoint, an Outreach program at Cedar Hills Church, has struck again and this time it left no mess behind. Determined to make a difference in our community, this team of volunteers sweltered in the 90-degree weather to refurbish the playground in preparation for 63 3- to 5-year-olds enrolled to attend this September.

Meanwhile in the Cedar Hills, fourth to sixth-grade Sunday classroom kids assembled 63 backpacks filled with everything from socks to books. Gifted by our benevolence program at Cedar Hills, these backpacks will be delivered to student homes by Head Start teachers before the first day of class.

North Idaho College Head Start is a school readiness program that provides education and support for young children and their families. Children must be between the ages of 3 and 4 on or before Sept. 1 of the enrolling school year. The services include: child education opportunities through classroom settings, nutritious meals and snacks, child developmental screenings and assessment, health information, home visits to support families in achieving their goals, family gatherings and fun learning opportunities.

Head Start also serves children with special needs. Preference is given to families with limited income; applications are accepted throughout the school year and those applicants are placed on a waitlist.

Apply online at http://nic.edu/headstart or stop by at Sandpoint Head Start Center, 101 S. Euclid Ave, Sandpoint.

North Idaho College Head Start in a Federally funded grant program. The program first established in the Sandpoint community in 1992. There are various ways for people/organizations to donate to the Sandpoint Head Start Center. Acts of service and goods can be donated by contacting LaTanya at the center directly at 208-263-6232.

Tami Heather is on the staff at Cedar Hills Church.