The Third District Dental Society in partnership with Wilkes-Barre Volunteers in Medicine donated dental bags for all Luzerne County Head Start preschool children to celebrate February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. The bag included a toothbrush, toothpaste and 2 flyers about dental care for children.

The Third District Dental Society of the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) was founded in 1930 and is made up of member dentists in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Monroe, Carbon, Columbia, and Wyoming counties. Member dentists and professionals strive to serve the public, improve their health, promote the art and science of dentistry and represent the interests of its members and the people they serve.

Volunteers in Medicine is a non-profit, community based organization developed to help meet the primary health care needs of the working uninsured and the underinsured populations in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. (LCHS) opened a new Head Start classroom for preschool aged children at Luzerne County Community College’s (LCCC) Hazleton center, 100 W. Broad Street.  Twelve children, ages 3-5, will attend services at this newly created space.  The classroom is funded through the agency’s federal grant money. 

Luzerne County Head Start executive director, Lynn Evans Biga, said, “We chose this location because the need for our services is great in the city of Hazleton.  Finding the right space for a classroom that fits the requirements of our program can be challenging.  The partnership we have with LCCC has helped to make this a great success.  We couldn’t do this without their commitment to our organization and understanding of our mission.”

The new classroom will provide comprehensive services to qualifying children and their families who live in the Hazleton area.  “We’re pleased to continue our valuable partnership with LCHS through the addition of a Head Start classroom at the College’s Hazleton Center,” said Thomas P. Leary, president, LCCC.  “Luzerne County Community College and Head Start have worked together on several joint initiatives at our main campus in Nanticoke and we look forward to working with the Head Start program and its students in the Hazleton area.”

In addition to its newest classroom at LCCC’s Hazleton center, LCHS has Head Start centers located at 663 Carson Street; 334 West Birch Street; and in the Hazleton Integration Project, 225 E 4^th Street.  LCHS also provides Early Head Start (EHS) services for pregnant women and children from birth to age three.  The Hazleton EHS program is located at 10 W. Chestnut Street in Hazleton.  All centers are currently enrolling new applicants in both programs. 

Alexandria is a 5-year-old student at Luzerne County Head Start’s Tunkhannock center who is headed to kindergarten in the fall. This is her second year in the Head Start program. Her family worker, Julianne Pettit or “Miss Julie,” says Alexandria loves to help her classmates.

“Alexandria is full of heart, and always has a smile on her face.”

The 5-year-old girl lives with her grandmother, who recently experienced some hardships that put the family in a state of homelessness. Miss Julie learned about Project Donate Joy (or DJ) from Luzerne County Head Start’s family engagement team. The group provides handmade quilts for children. Each quilt is crafted with unique material, so no two are alike.

Without reliable transportation and a temporary housing situation, Miss Julie thought the personalized blanket would be the perfect sentiment for Alexandria. The volunteers from Project DJ put together a special blanket for Alexandria and Miss Julie brought the blanket to her. Miss Julie says the little girl was so thankful and loves her new blanket.

“Alexandria has a lot of people who love and care for her.”

Alexandria enjoys spending time with her mother, father, baby brother and 8-year-old sister, Izabella, who was also a former LCHS student. Miss Julie recently helped Alexandria’s mother find a high chair for her baby brother and says she does whatever she can to make sure Alexandria and her family have everything they need.

“We are here for Alexandria, and her family. They really appreciate the help that we provide to them.”