Douglas-Cherokee Head Start to provide free meals to enrolled children

Douglas-Cherokee Head Start/Early Start will participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

The program helps to provide free meals to children enrolled in the Head Start program, as well as staff and volunteers.

Head Start Sites that will participate are:

Maryville Head Start — 510 Home Avenue, MaryvilleNew Providence Head Start — 703 W. Broadway, MaryvilleSouthdowne Head Start — 327 Southdowne Drive, Maryville

According to the Tennessee Department of Human Services website, the program “provides reimbursement for eligible meals that are served to participants who meet age and income requirements.”

Health and Nutrition Manager Lindsey Arnold said that the program reimburses Head Start for providing the meals and that Head Start has to fulfill certain nutrition requirements.

Head Start is a preschool program that serves children ages three to five and is designed to “give them (children) a head start to get them ready for kindergarten,” she said.

Arnold said Head Start currently serves 837 children in Blount, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Monroe, Sevier, and Union counties, 102 of which are in Blount County.

To qualify for the Head Start Program, families must meet certain income requirements or receive DHS Families First benefits, Supplemental Security Income benefits, or if the child applying is in foster care or a temporary kinship placement.

To apply for Head Start, interested families should call 423-587-4501 for help beginning the application process, Arnold said. Families should be prepared to bring the child’s birth certificate as well as supporting documentation like a tax return or SSI statement.