Children who attend Chautauqua County Head Start have recently been swept off on exciting new adventures due to a generous donation from the Fredonia and Dunkirk Kiwanis Clubs. 

A substantial donation was recently presented to the Chautauqua County Head Start & Early Head Start Programs in Northern Chautauqua County from the Fredonia Kiwanis in collaboration with the Dunkirk Kiwanis.

As part of the “Partners Project”, the clubs were able to purchase more than 300 books for the program as well as seven media centers that include a cassette player with four sets of head phones for books on tape.

Fredonia & Dunkirk Kiwanis Club members are pictured with the Head Start students and the books they donated to the program. Sitting from left are: Norm Cherry, Chairman; Carl Pawlak, Fredonia Kiwanis President; and John Miga, Dunkirk Kiwanis President.              (Observer photo by Justin Goetz)

Kiwanis Club Chairman Norm Cherry explained, “Reading is the most important step in child development. The children represent our hope for the future. Our organizations want to provide them with everything they need to achieve this goal because we believe that children are our number on priority.

”The program is fortunate to benefit from the involvement of a community neighbor such as the Fredonia and Dunkirk Kiwanis Clubs,” stated Kathy Fessenden, Director of Chautauqua County Head Start. “Their donations will provide added resources to the program in which many low-income families will benefit.” 

The Chautauqua County Head Start Program of Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. serves more than 200 children in the North County.

 According to Dunkirk Kiwanis Club President John Miga, “It is never too early to begin reading. The Chautauqua County Head Start Program serves so many area children and we are glad to provide them with the tools that will promote a lifelong love of reading.”

Story provided by Debra L. Karpinske, Observer Staff Writer    (Published 3/30/02)

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