| Emily Safley enjoys the new excavator, just one of a whole van load of toys donated to the children’s program. |
It was like an early Christmas without the wrapping paper. Several parents brought their children to the Carbon County Health Department Monday to play with the new toys and games provided to the Early Intervention program by the Price Kiwanis Club. It was a year-long project of the Kiwanis club and the result was over $1,000 in educational and developmental toys to assist with the team of professionals in the program.
A registered nurse with Early Intervention, Debbie Wells, explained that there are 27 children, from birth to three years who qualify for the program. These children work with physical, occupational and speech therapists as well as early intervention specialists and registered nurses through these early years. This is a federal program mandated by IDEA, a program for individuals with disabilities. Since much of the work with children at these ages is play, toys are often used in assisting developmental procedures.
Funding dried up and the team of professionals had no revenue or resources to purchase toys or material as they needed them. The Price Kiwanis Club heard that the funding for much-needed toys had been cut so they launched a community campaign and raised over $500, and this, along with their $500 match purchased an entire van load of new toys. Steve De Buono, manager of JCPenney in downtown Price was instrumental in securing the toys and funding was also provided by Rayne Carr, Jennie Leonard, the American Legion and Julia Wilson.
The Price Kiwanis Club is dedicated to assisting children and youth in Carbon County.