CHINA GROVE — A big party, complete with balloons, cupcakes and activities for the children, took place in China Grove as Smart Start Rowan continued its 30th year celebration along with observing its annual Smart Start Month.
On Sept. 16, the nonprofit organization held the special event using the theme of “30 Years of Growing Great Beginnings!” with the First Baptist Church in China Grove serving as the host site.
Denise Heinke, director of outreach and development, officially started the event as she welcomed everyone to the Smart Start Month celebration.
“We are so excited to have you all joining us this morning,” she said, noting that “this is our third annual celebration of Smart Start Month.”
She then welcomed Salisbury Council member Gemale Black, who read the proclamation. It was noted that Salisbury Mayor Tamara Sheffield and China Grove Mayor Rodney Phillips were unable to attend.
Black shared the proclamation declaring September as Smart Start Month, and noted, as is also in its mission statement, that the organization “has a continued commitment to ensure every child has the opportunity to enter school healthy, prepared and ready for success.”
Heinke invited everyone to gather for a group photo and also encouraged them to enjoy the various stations and check out the Novant Community Cruiser, which was on site and open during the event.
Those assisting at the cruiser or providing information and services were Robert Bliven, the nurse for the community cruiser, Beth Shue, Sandra De Leon and Aleshia Watson Spruill.
Noting that they were excited to partner with the Smart Start project, Bliven said that “Novant is honored to be here to provide the VFC (Vaccines For Children) program, brand new to Rowan, with our Community Cruiser.”
He said that they could provide the necessary immunizations that are needed before they go to kindergarten and help families not have to take time off work to go to the doctor and they could provide them free of charge.
“Novant is honored to be here to do this and provide this service,” he said.
Activities for children, birth to age five, were scattered throughout the church’s fellowship hall, among them being several areas helping children with manipulative and fine motor skills including Legos and a Tinkertoy-type stick and ball building activity.
Other tables included tattoos that the children could select and another was the Rootle PBS Kids table manned by Ermalyn Jaeck, local Rootle ambassador and lead parent educator at Smart Start Rowan.
Two additional stations were dedicated to providing children the opportunity to plant sunflower seeds with the assistance of Smart Start staff members, Lindsey Cuevas, resource specialist, and Lisbeth Berio, program assistant.
Cuevas said the idea to have this new station came about because the theme of the celebration centered around growing with Smart Start.
She noted that it not only provided a grow area, but also a science area for the children to “get that idea of growing and plants and outside and dirt and all that.”
As families entered the fellowship hall, they could get a free tote along with items to go into including crayons, blocks, flashcards and practice scissors.
Attendees were greeted by staff at the registration table, which also had information providing the opportunity to sign up for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. On one side of the table was a large cutout of Parton and a book and on the other side was a table with Dolly Parton-themed cupcakes with a butterfly, which had been donated by Food Lion.
Heinke shared that now that Rowan County has been opened again for new enrollments for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, they have received an amazing number from people who have been waiting
“This is for new enrollees and they can sign up through our website or they can go directly to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, punch in Rowan County, sign their child up online and they will get their free book,” said Heinke.
She explained that children will receive a book per month up to age five.
“So even if they are three years old and they want to sign up, they will get books until they are five,” she said.
To continue the legacy of Parton as a humanitarian and philanthropist, Heinke said it is their understanding that the “program is in place to continue even with her passing.”
Heinke said she would encourage families that have questions about the library, along with any of the programs and resources of Smart Start Rowan, to visit their office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. To 5 p.m.
“We have a playroom, a small library and we have resources for teachers and parents that are doing school in home, early educators,” she said. “We are here to support in any way that we can.”
