SHORE UP! Inc.’s Head Start/Early Head Start Program recently received 1,650 new books for its Head Start and Early Head Start programs from the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Second District, of Baltimore. Two fraternity representatives visited SHORE UP!’s main offices in Salisbury to make the donation during a ceremony June 24, 2016. Six Early Head Start children were present and each picked out his or her own book to read.
Together, the Head Start and Early Head Start programs are serving approximately 1,000 children and their families on Md.’s Eastern Shore, in Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties. Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive family development programs that help prepare children ages 0-5 for their next educational placement.
Also attending the ceremony was SHORE UP! Board of Directors member Dr. Michele Canopii, who helped facilitate the donation. On behalf of SHORE UP! and its Executive Director, Freddy Mitchell, Dr. Canopii presented the fraternity representatives a plaque of appreciation as she said, “SHORE UP! is very grateful for the support it receives from community organizations such as this fraternity. They truly help us serve the public.”
Denise Allen, SHORE UP! Administrator of Children and Family Services, added, “We greatly appreciate this generous gift. As the Head Start Program opens its school year on August 29, each classroom will have more new books, on many subjects and some in Spanish, for the children to read.”
Representing the Omega Psi Phi fraternity were Mr. John Berkley and Mr. Dwayne White. Mr. Berkley noted, “As Chairman of our fraternity’s “Assault on Illiteracy” campaign, I am pleased that we can assist Head Start as it helps children learn to read.” Mr. White, the group’s Social Action Committee Chairman, added, “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with SHORE UP! staff to help meet the needs of the economically disadvantaged.” In the past, the fraternity has donated laundry detergent and other items to SHORE UP! customers.
Head Start and Early Head Start offer qualifying families, including pregnant women, services at no cost in the areas of education, literacy, disabilities, health care, dental care, social development and nutrition – Head Start participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Transportation may be available. The focus of the program is to prepare children to be ready to enter kindergarten. Parents with children with disabilities are encouraged to apply for services.
For more information on Head Start or Early Head Start, call 410-749-1142 or visit www.shoreup.org.
