The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON - The Robert and Frances Chaney Family Foundation has awarded $6,000 to River Valley Child Development Services, according to a news release.
The funds will support the Growing Hearts program, an intergenerational activity between Enterprise Child Development Center, a service of River Valley, and Woodlands Retirement Community. The funds are helping to pay for a three-part program that includes gardening, art and literacy.
Residents from Woodlands help with the projects as they make trips to the center to visit the children. The children will be taking trips to Woodlands as well.
"We are so grateful to the Chaney Family Foundation," Suzi Brodof, executive director at River Valley, said in the release. "We've already started the project, and we're seeing benefits. The children are learning and have enjoyed planting the vegetables. We're thankful to Woodlands and their interest in partnering with us. We've started those visits and are looking forward to growing that relationship. We believe this is a program that can have a lot of benefits for everyone involved."
Enterprise, a nationally accredited child care center located at 2021 W. 5th Ave., in Huntington, serves children ages 6 weeks through pre-K. The staff and children began planting raised-bed gardens this spring and will incorporate their harvest into the daily menus. Potatoes, onions and broccoli among others have already been planted.
In addition, the children are doing special art projects and listening to books about gardening and intergenerational relationships.
The mission of the Chaney Family Foundation is to benefit the welfare of children and families and to support public safety. Cabell County is one of three geographic areas where the Foundation awards funds.
River Valley is celebrating its 45th anniversary of serving children and families in West Virginia. To learn more about River Valley or Enterprise Child Development Center, go online at www.rvcds.org. For enrollment information at Enterprise, call 304-429-3882.