Association Awards Mini-Grants

Eight lucky programs were tapped to receive $2000 VAHSA mini-grants to assist them in achieving specific goals. The awards were presented by President Chris Austin at the June 2011 Directors and Board of Directors meeting.

Two programs in each of the four regions received the grants. The winners are:

Southeast:

  • Office of Human Affairs Head Start: OHA will use their money to offset rising gasoline prices. OHA Head Start currently has 18 buses. In May 2010, the cost of filling up the buses was $2,220.00. Today, the cost of filling up those same buses is $3,064.00, a difference of $844.00. The gas increase alone has placed their budget at a deficit of over $25,000 for the year.
  • Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Head Start: WJCCC follows OHA in using the funds for fuel costs. In order to keep pace with rising costs, several staff members have cut hours to ensure that transportation can remain an essential part of their program services.

Southwest:

  • STEP, Inc.: The Rocky Mount-based program will apply the funds to purchase an OAE machine for testing the hearing of Early Head Start students.
  • Lee County Public Schools Head Start: This program will use their $2000 for playground improvement. Specifically, they will use it to purchase rubber resilient surfacing as a replacement for wooden chips that present an ongoing challenge in maintaining a healthy and safe playground environment.

Northeast:

  • Apple Country Head Start: This program, which serves Winchester and surrounding counties, will use the funds to offset fuel and food costs. They stated in their application: As gas prices continue to rise, our program faces tremendous deficits in our budget to accommodate this increase. Our staff has lost dental insurance, and a reduction in the program’s 401k contribution to offset these costs. As a result of the increase in fuel prices, we have also had to reduce training opportunities to staff. We have chosen to serve the children first and provide professional development opportunities from local resources.
  • Stafford County Head Start will use their money to ramp up their “Baby Shower” project, which provides essential items to families with newborns. The grant will be used to provide 20 portable play yards to the pregnant families and families of newborns attending the Baby Shower, and purchase five breast pumps that would be loaned out to families willing to breastfeed. Read more about their Baby Shower event.

Northwest:

Northwest Region mini-grant winners with President Austin; Joan Robbins, Community Improvement Association, Danville; and Simon Fiscus, Skyline Community Action Partnership, Madison.
Northwest Region mini-grant winners with President Austin; Joan Robbins,
Community Improvement Association, Danville; and Simon Fiscus, Skyline
Community Action Partnership, Madison.

  • Community Improvement Council of Danville: This program will purchase new circle time charts for their 12 classrooms and School-to-Home organizers to enhance parent participation and education.
  • Skyline Community Action Partnership Head Start will say goodbye to a 20-year-old air-conditioner in their Greene County center.They expect to save $150 a month in energy costs through this move.

Congratulations to all these winners! The Virginia Head Start Association is privileged to be able to offer small assistance in these hard economic times.