Local nonprofit receives $25k grant to give preschool-aged kids the best start possible
EAST PRICE HILL, Ohio (WKRC) – A local nonprofit continues to be a lifeline for families in East Price Hill. It’s been that way for 125 years.
From prenatal care to educational and workforce services, Santa Maria Community Services is equipped to meet the needs of families.
Susan Conrad is the director of support services, and is excited about the recent $25,000 grant from the PNC Foundation.
"Through this grant, we are able to buy all of our children a child’s Amazon Fire tablet,” said Conrad.
That's roughly 200 tablets for preschool-aged kids. The tablets also come with the Ready Rosie app installed.
"It’s like little 10-minute videos that are educational and has information for parents, also,” said Conrad.
It also gives the kids unlimited books for a year.
"They can also download books in the library into it," Conrad said. "So, it gives them instant access to reading materials they never would’ve had before."
But that's not where the support ends. Each preschooler also gets three brand-new outfits for school.
"We underestimate the importance of that to our families. A lot of them have to use the laundromat, so they don’t have time to get clean clothing the way we do. It’s hard for them. It’s difficult," said Conrad. "The ability for that child to start out in brand-new clothing makes them like they can take on the world."
This is the third time PNC and Santa Maria Community Services have teamed up to help students in East Price Hill.
