Clinton Head Start celebrated another successful year Monday with a rodeo style celebration for children and families.

The event at the College Street campus featured a variety of activities such as face painting, horse rides, games and crafts. Head Start, a federally-funded community-based program provides assistance to low-income families through a variety of services.

Yeiska Liao and Ivonee Alba, family service specialists, enjoyed watching the participants enjoy themselves during the third annual event.

“It’s nice to do something for the parents and the kids,” Liao said. “It’s nice to have them out of the classroom to do something fun.”

In the beginning hours of the celebration, Alba said Clinton Head Start was expecting more than 600 people.

“We’re very excited,” Alba said.

Liao said the big event was made possible through donations from community organizations and businesses.

“We would like to thank everyone in the community,” she said.

Liao said the Clinton Head start program was able to keep steady numbers during the year, assisting more than 180 children.

“We’re looking forward to having the same success for next year,” Liao said. “We had a very busy year and a lot of parent-oriented activities and a lot of volunteers, which is good for our federally-funded program.”

Next year, Alba said one of the goals for next year is to form a partnership with local schools for more volunteers.

“We’re trying to partner with the school system to try to get more of the older students to come and help us and volunteer,” Alba said.

Telamon Corporation, a human service and nonprofit agency, receives federal funds to operate Head Start. It operates three types of programs for families: Head Start (preschool for children ages 3 to 5 years old), Early Head Start (childcare for children 0 to 3 years old and pregnant women) and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (childcare and preschool for children of eligible farmworkers ages 0 to 5 years old).

Applications are being accepted for the upcoming year. Parents and guardians are required to provide proof of age documents such as birth certificates, Medicaid card or immunization records. Proof of income for the last 12 months or prior calendar year is also required. Some of the examples include a W-2, paycheck stubs and 1040 tax forms.

For more information about the program or for qualifications, contact 910-590-1027.

Reach Chase Jordan at 910-249-4617. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.

Program holds year-end celebration

By Chase Jordan

[email protected]

Two-year-old Shelby Jeudy, center, and Jazmin Sanchez,5, enjoy patting a bunny. Also pictured is Kevin Diaz, 5, who also enjoyed time with the bunny.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Headstart_1.jpgTwo-year-old Shelby Jeudy, center, and Jazmin Sanchez,5, enjoy patting a bunny. Also pictured is Kevin Diaz, 5, who also enjoyed time with the bunny.

Lola Navez, 4, enjoys playing in a sack race with the help of teachers Elma Kellon and Tiffany Crook.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Headstart_2.jpgLola Navez, 4, enjoys playing in a sack race with the help of teachers Elma Kellon and Tiffany Crook.

Christopher Martin, 3, catches bubbles with a hat during a Head Start celebration.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Headstart_3.jpgChristopher Martin, 3, catches bubbles with a hat during a Head Start celebration.