To Market, To Market

Thank you Jim, Shirley, Rhonda and the rest of the team at Office Depot in Alton, Illinois! They donated hundreds of dollars worth of cool office and classroom supplies to us today. Pictured is Store Manager Jim Miller on the left, and John Norton, our Facilities Janitor.

We got the call and rushed right over to find a palette full of boxes of goodies. A little something for everyone in our agency, including the kiddos we serve in our programs that get them ready for big school.

These supplies will go a long way toward helping us achieve our mission to enable children and families to develop positive skills to meet life's challenges.

Thanks again, Mission Partner!

Shop Office Depot (shameless plug)

Father David Boase from the Episcopal Parish of Alton surprised Sandy Kelley, director of Family Foundations with a $300 check, board books and Baby Einstein videos for the young children and families her program strengthens.

Thank you so much parishioners!

Parishioner Gay Bryant (not pictured), said that the outreach efforts of the parish are geared toward helping small children and struggling families in the community by supporting programs that help them.

Family Foundations, a program of Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, provides parent education and case management to parents, and child development activities to children through regularly scheduled home visits.

Kelley said they'd use the cash for a holiday party they host for their families. It's a chance for families to be out in the world together and celebrate. Research has shown that family strengthening programs should foster social connections between families with young children. Many of our families are isolated due to a lack of transportation and low-income.

Parent group meetings at its Alton and Granite City centers round out the program's family strengthening services that are based on the Parents As Teachers model.

A Happy Father's Day...early

Recently fantastic fathers, like Rodrick (in the picture) and other positive male role models helped their preschoolers make apple pies from biscuits, filling and cinnamon.

While the pies baked, the families read a book together, and then played outside on the playground.

The event promoted father-child bonding, which is important for a child’s brain development and self-esteem. It also let the men know that they are valuable, too.

The families are enrolled in our Head Start Home-Based program. Rodrick and his son, Rodrick, Jr. are from Alton. Other families came from Bethalto, Cottage Hills, and Roxana.

Thanks for being there, Dads!