Social Work Students Volunteer at Local Head Start

 February 16, 2013 – Social Work students from the Shaw University Greenville CAPE Social Work Association, recently collected school items for pre-kindergarten (pre-k) students for their "Hearts for Head Start" service project. The pre-k students received the items in gift bags for Valentine’s Day and the project was featured on Greenville television station WITN. 

Beginning on February 1, the Social Work students collected school supplies, toys, candy and valentine cards, for the pre-k students and staff members of the Ayden Head Start program in Ayden, NC. In addition, the students collected sanitizer, post-it notes, treats and other classroom items to assist the pre-k teachers. On Valentine's Day, the students traveled to the Ayden Head Start to deliver the items wrapped in gift bags. The students also helped the pre-k students create valentine cards, sing songs and read books. 

Head Start programs are federally funded programs with the goal of preparing children from low-income families for school readiness. Within the past year, the program has sustained major cuts to funding. The Social Work students created the “Hearts for Head Start” community service project as a way to give back to the Head Start program and encourage social, behavioral and educational success among the pre-k students. 

Social work students that participated in the service project and WITN-TV segment included: Sheconia Harris, Tanisha Dildy, Richaunda Carr, Quintina Little, Darrick Sharpe, Effie Williams, Edward Land, Alicia Fann, and Sharon Mims. 

Click here to view the WITN story.