Head Start Fundraiser

The giggles of children playing during recess at Malta Head Start last week let's anyone within earshot know that the center not only promotes school readiness for the youngsters, it promotes having fun.

Not a single piece of playground equipment went untouched by the children during the recess and the apparatus getting the most playtime was the wooden play structure which houses several different floors, a slide, a swing-rope and bouncy bridge. The structure is well used and nearly 20 years old, and the folks at Malta Head Start feel that it is time for the popular attraction to be replaced with something even more grand.

"That is one of the more popular things on our playground," said Susy Johnson, Malta Head Start Site Coordinator. "So we want to replace it with something similar. What we have now is fine, but in another five years it will have to be replaced so might as well get it switched out now."

Johnson said the current wooden playground structure is nearly 20 years old and though it is still safe for the children to play on, it needs to be replaced. The new playground equipment that Johnson has her eye on for the center comes with a $12,000 price tag. For the past two years, through the sale of butter braids, Malta Headstart is well on their way to covering the purchase cost of the new playground equipment.

"We are almost to $8,800," said Johnson. "The butter braids have been our main-staple. We have held three of the butter braid fundraisers, the last one last spring right before Easter, and the community has been very generous with those."

The latest fundraiser for Malta Head Start is through the Schwan's Home Delivery Service Fundraising Network. "Schwan's is partnering with us to help us reach our goal," said Johnson. "You can also help us by purchasing an E-card from Schwans for products or by simply placing an order online or by phone."

Schwan's website – http://www.schwans-cares.com/campaigns/26271-- which leads directly to the Malta Head Start Playground Equipment website. From there, click "shop to give." A total of 20-percent of products purchased on the Headstart page will go back to the group and if a person purchases an eGift Card, 40-percent of the sales comes back to Malta Headstart. Orders can also be made by telephone by calling Schwan's and providing Campaign ID 26271.

"It's not the door-to-door sales, but rather orders made over the phone or on the internet," said Johnson. "Our goal is $2,500,"

The Schwans fundraiser has two sesions, the first a 45- day period which runs from now until April 7.

"That is where we will make our biggest bang where we can get back up to 40-percent with the eCards," Johnson said. "So if you need anything for your Easter, from pie to hams, give it shot."

After the April 7 deadline, there will be another 90-day period for the fundraiser which runs through July 6. Malta Headstart receives 5-percent back toward the playground equipment for the second portion of the fundraiser. Johnson said that the Malta Headstart Schwan's website can be accessed by family members across the state and country, so let them know about the fundraiser as well.

Becca Yarger, the new Action for Eastern Montana's Headstart Director out of Glendive, was at the Malta Headstart last Wednesday and she said she was amazed with the school's building and staff.

"This is an amazing facility," Director Yarger said. "Of all the facilities, this is, by far, the most integrated and it is beautiful. All the teachers are working together and the interaction is amazing. These teachers are genuinely concerned with their students and that is wonderful to see. The new playground equipment is only going to enhance this wonderful facility."