MountainHeart Opening Head Start Center To Flood Victims

Hanover, WV – In the wake of devastating flooding in Southern WV this week, MountainHeart Community Services is opening its Hanover Head Start Center for emergency child care for flood victims.  This will make available a safe environment with activities for children affected by the flooding.  Families can have a “peace of mind” in knowing that their children are being cared for and not exposed to the many health hazards in the aftermath of the flooding while they begin the long process of cleaning up.

The site can serve up to 20 children ages 2 – 12 and will be open from 7 am to 6 pm.  The center is staffed by qualified Head Start teachers and MountainHeart outreach staff.  Meals will be provided to the children and their families during this hard time.

The Head Start Center is located beside the Huff Consolidated Elementary School and Hanover Public Library on Route 52 in Hanover, WV.  The number at the Head Start center is 304-938-3177.

Four counties are cleaning up after weekend rain showers flooded parts of Logan, McDowell, Wyoming and Mingo Counties.  Gov. Joe Manchin has declared all four counties a state of emergency.  The flooding comes just two years after families were hit with similar flooding; many families were still in the process of cleaning up.

MountainHeart is a private, nonprofit 501(c )(3) community action agency that was incorporated in 1965 in accordance with the economic opportunity act of 1964.  MountainHeart provides select and specific services and programs in 29 counties, serving over 18,000 residents in 2009 alone.

The organizational mission of MountainHeart is to reduce the incidence of and lessen the impact of poverty among West Virginia residents.  It is also the mission of the agency to mobilize community resources to combat poverty and to affect a permanent increase in the capacity of individuals, families, groups and communities to become self-sufficient and successful at problem solving.

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