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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
One of the great values in Utah is the ability to put our heads down and go to work, which includes volunteering. This year Utah was recognized as the No. 1 state for volunteering for the ninth consecutive year. One of the major organizations involved in this effort is Head Start.
Joni Clark, chief development officer, says Head Start serves 2,100 kids annually with 700 kids on the waiting list for the services they provide. The average family of four on the program makes about $17,000 annually, living in poverty. Their organization has a tri focus on health, education and self-sufficiency. A lot of these kids haven't seen a doctor since they were born, so Head Start has a program of health services to promote preventive health and early intervention … with great impact.
In one case a refugee family from Africa enrolled their four-year-old daughter in the program. She had never received any dental care and had five abscessed teeth. She was in so much pain, she couldn't focus or learn. The family advocate worked to gain trust with the family and connected them with Primary Children's Hospital so the girl could receive the immediate care she desperately needed.
Head Start offers six programs including an adult education and employment program to help low-income families and the Sauté program to teach the skills for any culinary position in the community.
With the knowledge that many of these kids aren't getting the meals they need at home, Head Start operates the Head Start Central Kitchen. Joni says the idea is to provide these kids with two thirds of their daily nutrition through high-quality and nutritious meals. They also help educate the kids on what food they're eating so they can develop good eating habits. The Nutrition in the Home program teaches parents how to cook healthy affordable food to create better nutrition at home.
In addition, Head Start is also serving hundreds of meals for the elderly at Café Evergreen, in the Millcreek Rec Center.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Head Start 1307 S. 900 West Salt Lake City, UT 84104 801-977-1122 www.saltlakeheadstart.org
