Smart Start of Pender County

Quarterly Newsletter

October/November/December 2024

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Agency Closings


The agency will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2024, in observance of Veterans's Day.

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The agency will be closed the week of November 25th through November 29th, in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.


The agency will be closed from Monday, December 23, 2024, through Monday, January 6th, in observance of the Christmas and New Year's Holiday.

Agency Upcoming Events 

Agency Updates

Quality Specialist and Rootle Ambassador Porchia Wilson

and Read-a-roo

Greetings readers, I have great news! I am officially Pender County’s Rootle Ambassador. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to combine the resources from Rootle and Smart Start to better serve the families and teachers in our community.


What’s a Rootle Ambassador? Let’s see what PBS says…


“ Rootle Ambassadors are community members who support families of young learners in counties across the state of North Carolina. Ambassadors serve as leaders, connecting PBS KIDS and early learning resources to the unique needs of their communities. They are equipped with tools to share that enrich learning for all children, provide valuable training and experiences, and create a community network for early childhood educators and families to connect.”

 

How do I plan to serve my community?

 

As your Rootle Ambassador I hope to be able to unite PBS Kids and Smart Start of Pender County. Both programs have much to offer the  children and families of Pender County, as well as the teachers who serve them. I plan offer Rootle and PBS resources directly from our office and during community outreach events, including festivals, Smart Start events, and any other events that we are invited to attend. I will share useful tips on how to use PBS resources in conjunction with resources from Smart Start to support children at home and in the classroom.  I am passionate about both of the organizations that I work with and I am excited to get started. I am proud to be serving as your Rootle Ambassador.

 

 

 

Agency Programs

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. Age appropriate books are mailed to registered chldren birth up to age 5 (0-5) monthly.

More Information on Dolly Parton Imagination Program

Contact

Program Manager Angel Parker

aparker@pender4kids.com


Pender County Early Childhood Lending Library

Our Early Childhood Lending Library specializes in making learning fun! We offer countless resources such as developmentally appropriate educational toys and manipulatives, theme boxes, puzzles, teacher resource books, parenting books, music and MORE. Our resources cover all subject areas with an emphasis on the “play to learn” philosophy. Members may check out up to THREE items at a time for an entire month. In addition, we also have a workroom for all your classroom or craft needs and a variety of programs aimed to benefit the young children in Pender County


AGENCY GRANTS AWARDED

Smart Start of Pender County is proud to announce that it has been awarded a grant for approximately $40,460 from the Positive Childhood Alliance (PCANC). Smart Start of Pender County was one of thirty-eight (38) Family Service Organizations (FSOs) and Family Resource Centers (FRCs) chosen across the state of North Carolina. 

This one-time funding opportunity, provided by the Positive Childhood Alliance in collaboration with the North Carolina Division of Social Services (NC DSS) is designed to enhance the capacity of FSOs and FRCs to provide vital support to families, with a particular focus on strengthening communities and connecting organizations with the statewide North Carolina Family Resource Center Network. Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina (formerly known as Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina) founded in 1979 connects organizations with the resources they need to assist children and families with reaching their full potential.  

Smart Start of Pender County will use this funding to increase activities that will improve the early childhood experiences for young children and their families.



To read full article Click Here


Click Here to read Smart Start of Pender County article featured in Positive Childhood Alliance newsletter  

Smart Start of Pender County has been awarded a $2,000.00 grant from International Paper's Riegelwood, NC Mill, and the International Paper Foundation. The grant will support Smart Start of Pender County's Child Passenger Safety Program, as well as other child safety initiatives. 


To read full article Click Here



Early Childhood Development

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Community Partner Events

Donation Page

Join Goodsearch.com to raise funds for Smart Start of Pender County. Goodsearch donates money to your favorite cause when you search the internet, shop online or dine out at local restaurants!  Use Goodsearch.com to search the internet and they donate a penny per search to your cause. Use Goodshop.com when you shop on line and they donate a percentage of every purchase and offer over 100,000 coupons to help you save money too! Sign up for their good dining program and they will donate a percentage of your restaurant bill when you eat at any one of thousands of participating restaurants. It's really easy; it's free and turns simple everyday actions into a way to make the world a better place. Please sign up today to support Smart Start of Pender County. 

Birthday Fundraiser for Smart Start of Pender County

Join in supporting a good cause for your birthday this year. Please consider Smart Start of Pender County as your facebook nonprofit fundraising project. Your contribution will make an impact. Every little bit helps and is appreciated. Meta will donate $5.00 too after the first donation.

The mission of Smart Start of Pender County, Inc. is to support services that help every child to grow into his or her potential as a person. Facebook takes care of the donation processing with no fees. 

Or

Paypal

Donate
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Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at

919-814-5400.

The license is not an endorsement by the State.

About Us

Board of Directors


Leslie Green- Board Chair

Donald Hall - Vice Chair

Sharon Willoughby - Treasurer

Allen Phillips-Bell– Secretary

James "Jimbo" Robbins

Angela Beacham

Stacie Poulin

Rev. Dean Walker

Edith Meza

Sandra Sarmiento

Avery Ellington

Tandra Shepard Henderson

Jerry Groves

Donna VanVliet 


If you are interested in serving on the Smart Start of Pender County Board of Directors, or volunteering with our agency, please contact our office at (910) 259-9978 or stop by and visit with us. 


SSPC Team

                    

Connie Carr-Costin, MSW

Executive Director

ccarr-costin@pender4kids.com

 Ext: 31


Angel Parker

Program Manager

aparker@pender4kids.com  

 Ext: 24


Porchia Wilson

Quality Specialist

pwilson@pender4kids.com

Ext. 22


Regina Bass-Corley, M.A.Ed

Consultant

rbass-corley@pender4kids.com

Ext. 26


Mia Carney

Program Support Assistant

mcarney@pender4kids.com

Ext. 36



Lisa Worley, MBA

Program Evaluator/ Coordinator

lworley@pender4kids.com



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The staff of Smart Start of Pender County would like to

thank our board members, child care providers and our local

community for investing in early care and education.

Special thank you to Lauretta Murray and Reginald Clark.


A Special thank you to our youth volunteers - Camron Brinson, Brianna Cashwell and Azionna Chaison.

Please like us on Facebook and connect with our website at www.pender4kids.com

The mission of Smart Start of Pender County, Inc. is to support services that provide opportunities for every child to grow into his or her potential as a person.