Iola received a gift Saturday aimed at helping children considered at risk or living in poverty. The Southeast Kansas Community Action Program collected a grant for $2,500 from the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation.
The money was earmarked for an addition to the Iola Family Development Center in the form of playground equipment. The center, 525 Kennedy Ave., is a recent addition to the community as of fall of 2011.
“The existing building we had was starting to become pretty old,” said Lynda Broyles, deputy director of SEK-CAP. “We happened to own a parcel of land and went about getting things going. It’s a process that has been five years in the making.”
With the demand of taking care of more than 50 children ranging from birth to 5, the staff, which runs the Head Start program in Iola, knew it was time to expand what they had to offer.
“With all of this new equipment, we are able to keep the children active and healthy which is one of the dimensions of our program,” Broyles said.
The addition features several pieces of playground equipment where children can climb in a safe environment. However if a child does fall, a new surface has been placed on the ground surrounding the outdoor area. Made out of recycled material, the mat is part of a growing trend in “green” playground design around the region according to Broyles.
The grant is also being celebrated by members of the Iola City Council. Joel Wicoff, Iola city councilman expressed the possible effects of the project as it has evolved and grown.
“I think it’s a smart investment for the community,” Wicoff said. “In addition to the obvious benefits for the children going there, we’ve added jobs, services and educational opportunities that will help the community for a long time.”
As for the future of the development center, the staff has an optimistic outlook.
“We have a lot of great things going on,” said Linda Womelsdorf, lead morning teacher at IFDC. “We’re very excited about the different things we will be able to provide for our kids here.”
