Newspaper Page Text
Page 2— Wednesday, December 29, 2021, The True Citizen
A CHILDS WORLD
. A' Quality Rated
Vi I DAYCARE
407 Pauline Jenkins St.
Waynesboro, Georgia
706-554-0945
Addressing food insecurity
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
A Child’s World daycare
goes above to and beyond to
help address food insecurity
around the county.
Chief Operating Officer
Shatoria Rackins said it goes
back to last year when the
pandemic closed down face-
to-face learning in the public
schools. The COVID outbreak
prevented bus drivers from
delivering food to the students.
The teachers at the daycare
volunteered to deliver meals.
They delivered food five days
a week, 500 meals a day,
to children, including those
not enrolled in their facility.
Although they initially vol
unteered, the daycare ended
up paying them during a time
when state social distancing
mandates required, they shut
down. Afterward, online teach
ing became a new skill the
teachers acquired.
“We have just been swamped
with all the different changes,”
Rackins said.
As an act of appreciation,
the daycare gave 17 teachers
$1,000 bonus checks, in addi
tion to the state funded $1,000
bonuses. The teachers received
the unexpected bonuses two
days before Christmas during
a masquerade ball.
“Often in early childcare,
we are only highlighted when
something bad happens,”
Rackins said. “These are peo
ple who love children.”
Even once the schools went
back to face-to-face learning,
A Child’s World began its own
feeding program. Since August
they have distributed 3,500
meals. Every Monday they
deliver food to children around
Burke County. The children
receive breakfasts, lunches and
snacks, enough for the week.
The program initially targeted
children who lived in apart
ment complexes but branched
out to children who live in
single family homes, where
those who fall in the grey area
of the “working poor” often get
overlooked.
“There is still a need for food
in our community,” Rackins
said. “We just really wanted to
help fill that void.”
The funding for the program
comes from the state. The
teachers implement the pro
gram in addition to running the
daycare facility.
“Some Mondays are tough
er than others, but we think
it’s necessary,” Rackins said
and pointed out that it is the
willingness of the daycare’s
employees that makes the pro
gram work.
There is a quality rating sys
tem that is applied to daycare
facilities. A Child’s World has
received the maximum 3-star
rating.
“It’s super hard to get three,
but what it says is that your
center is just a place where
you are making sure the kids
are not getting hurt, but there
is actually quality care that
focuses on language, reading,
social and emotional skills,”
Rackins said.
L-R: Addy Fare, Briggs Roberts, Landon Sorrells, and
Brian Walker. Photo by: Amy Nunnally
4-H'ERS COMPETE IN
PEANUT RECIPE CONTEST
Meridith Franks • Extension Agent
The Georgia 4-H Peanut Recipe Contest is a Food and
Nutrition Activity for Cloverleaf (4th-6th grade) 4-H’ers
sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission. Through
this contest, 4-H’ers will develop skills in using peanuts
creatively in recipes. They will also learn about the nutri
tional value of peanuts and versatility of peanut products.
Twelve students entered this year’s county contest and
were judged in 4 categories. Winners were: Best Overall
- Brian Walker (BES), Most Nutritious - Briggs Roberts
(BES), Most Unusual - Landon S orrells (BES), and Most
Creative - Addy Fare (BES). Winners received a Georgia
Peanut Commission clear draw string bag. Congratula
tions to all the winners!
CORRECTION
In last week’s issue an article titled Following in her
mother’s footsteps incorrectly stated that Latara Wilker-
son purchased a gun after her mother Sgt. Lillie Tolbert
purchased one. It should have stated that she purchased a
Galant. The article also stated the two women purchased
Infinity 250s but should have stated they purchased Infin
ity Q50s. We apologize for the misunderstanding.
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