Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 13, 2018                                                                                           Contact:   Ellen M. Ganley,  WCAC Director of Development  508 762-9807        [email protected] 

Fundación MAPFRE donates grant to WCAC

Resources to support Head Start nutrition program

 

Worcester, Massachusetts - Worcester Community Action Council has received a $57,000 grant from Fundación MAPFRE to support the nutrition program at the agency's Head Start program.

 

Healthy nutrition is crucial for young children's immediate success, as well as providing a solid ground for healthy growth and development throughout the course of their lifetime. Children enrolled in WCAC's Head Start program receive a nutritional breakfast, lunch and snack daily. While the agency is reimbursed a portion of the nutritional program costs by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), there is a sizable cost remaining. The grant from Fundación MAPFRE will provide each of the 203 children enrolled in the program the equivalent of 89 daily breakfasts.

 

"Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day - ensuring that youngsters start their day nutritionally balanced and ready to learn," noted WCAC Executive Director Jill C. Dagilis. "We are most appreciative of Fundación MAPFRE's strong support for this important component of our Head Start program." 

Children receive breakfast, lunch and a snack daily - served family style so that teachers and staff can model table manners, sharing and social interaction lessons, as well as healthy nutrition.

"Early childhood learning programs are important to the development of our children," said Alfredo Castelo, Fundación MAPFRE representative in the U.S. "Fundación MAPFRE is proud to support Head Start and help children in our local communities begin their day with a healthy meal."

 

Team members from MAPFRE toured WCAC's Head Start program last week, and read stories in classrooms before joining the youngsters for lunch.

 

WCAC's Head Start program serves families from the communities of  East Brookfield, Leicester, Millbury, Oxford, Spencer, Southbridge and Webster. Families must meet income eligibility standards to qualify. Children in foster care, homeless children, and children from families receiving public assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Supplemental Security Income) are also eligible for Head Start services regardless of income. 

 

WCAC currently serves over 200 pre-school children in 12 Head Start classrooms at the former Southbridge High School, 25 Cole Avenue, Southbridge. Renovations are underway at the former Webster Senior Center site, 116 School Street in Webster with four of WCAC's Head Start classrooms slated to be relocated to Webster in January 2019.

About WCAC

Since 1965, the Worcester Community Action Council has served as the federally designated anti-poverty agency for central and southern Worcester County, with a mission of helping people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships and advocacy.

Serving the City of Worcester and 45 neighboring communities of Auburn, Blackstone, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Palmer, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield and Westborough.  

Stay Connected