Head Start students pose for a photo with (from left) Tom Andrews, Community Action Agency CEO; Melissa Costa, Salem Community Foundation Grant Coordinator; John Tonti, Salem Community Foundation President; Brittany Zamarelli, Salem Community Foundation Donor Relations; and Christine Malloy, Head Start and Early Head Start Director. (Submitted photo)

Grant awarded to Head Start

SALEM — The Salem Community Foundation recently awarded a $5,000 grant to Community Action Agency of Columbiana County’s Head Start program to be used toward the purchase of a variety of school supplies to meet each student’s current needs, encourage early literacy, and support creativity.

As a public charitable trust, the Salem Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the immediate area by supporting programs, projects, and offering scholarships to high school students.

“I admire the dedication of the Head Start administration and teachers working to educate Salem’s young children. Our community foundation is thrilled to provide these students with the essential supplies needed to develop the skills they are learning each day in their classrooms,” said Melissa Costa, Salem Community Foundation’s grant coordinator.

The Head Start program promotes school readiness for children ages birth to 5-years-old from low-income families while supporting the child’s growth and development in a positive learning environment through a variety of services including early learning, health and family wellbeing. The Salem Community Foundation grant gifted each Salem Head Start preschool student with a drawstring backpack filled with school supplies, two books and a pair of headphones to be used throughout the school year.

Head Start Director Christine Malloy expressed appreciation on behalf of the Head Start staff, “We are very appreciative of the Salem Community Foundation’s generosity and support of our students and the community.” The learning bags will come in handy especially for the Head Start preschool students who have started the school year virtually.