Greensburg Daily News, Greensburg, IN

December 16, 2009

Local Groups Give Kids Head Start On Christmas

Joe Hornaday

Christmas came early for the kids at the Greensburg Head Start program on Tuesday.

The combined effort of three local groups brought a smile to the faces of the 36 kids at Head Start, 10 days before Christmas. The Greensburg Optimist Club, the Greensburg Kiwanis Club and the Greensburg High School Junior Optimist Club joined forces to give the Head Start kids an early Christmas party on Tuesday. According to Merrill Smith, the partnership between the organizations including the combination of funds to provide several gifts to the children, including: sweatshirts; socks; puzzles; stuffed animals; Play-Doh; balls; candy; and coloring books. The Greensburg Junior Optimist Club wrapped the presents on Sunday, Dec. 13, before they handed them off to Santa Claus, who delivered them Tuesday.

The Head Start program is for 3, 4 and 5-year-old children that works to get them ready and prepared for kindergarten. This year marks the third time that the Optimists, Kiwanis and Junior Optimists have helped with the Head Start Christmas parties.

At the two parties, the kids unwrapped presents, visited with Santa Claus and even helped decorate Christmas cookies.