By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Calling parents and guardians of children from zero to five years old.
On Friday, May 3, the organization Help Me Grow Allegan is hosting a Kids’ Day Event specifically for pre-school-age children at Ransom District Library in Plainwell.
The free event, which features the theme of “Let’s About Books, Balls and Blocks” and is sponsored by Allegan County’s Great Start Collaborative (GSC), will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is being made possible by Allegan County Community Foundation’s TAG Grant.
Becky Huberty is the coordinator for the Allegan County GSC.
“This free early childhood event is an easy, quick way for families to get connected to local resources, while having fun,” Huberty said. “Families will receive new books and family engagement activities to take home to enjoy after the event.
“They will be able to take their pictures with Clifford the BIG Red Dog and Molly of Denali through WGVU PBS.”
Families will also be able to learn about the summer reading programs at Ransom, Allegan District Library, Fennville District Library and Leighton Township Library.
Other activities include face painting, a bounce house, giveaways, healthy taste testing and screeners (oral, vision and development).
“(Caregivers) will also be able to ask early childhood staff questions regarding their child’s development, childcare needs, preschool enrollment and other resources their family might need,” Huberty said.
Ransom head of youth services and assistant director Erin Marsh is excited about the opportunity to host the event.
“Ransom Library is proud to collaborate with Help Me Grow Allegan because they are a wonderful community resource for parents with very young children,” Marsh said. “They collaborate with agencies all around Allegan County to ensure that parents have access to local resources, programs and services so their children can be ready to succeed when they enter school.”
Allegan County’s GSC is a collaborative consisting of more than 30 nonprofit agencies that service families with children ages birth through five years.
Twenty-eight of these agencies will be onsite for the Kids’ Day Event, handing out resource materials, family giveaways, and raffle prizes.
In addition to Help Me Grow Allegan, the Allegan County GSC also includes the Talking is Teaching program, an early literacy campaign that ensures all children are reading proficiently by the end of third grade.
“Both opportunities are made possible by the continued support of Great Start Collaborative agencies and family input through our Great Start Family Coalition,” Huberty said.
For more information about the Allegan County GSC, visit hmgallegan.org.
