Schools

Ferndale Mayor Announces Partners for Backpack Program

Local groups helped Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter fill backpacks for Ferndale's Headstart classes.

Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter announced the four partners at Monday night's City Council meeting that helped him fill the 68 backpacks for the 68 Head Start kids.

The from the (FCF), with Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLSHA) as the fiduciary of the program.

The four groups are , , Ferndale First Baptist Church and "a group of engaged" parents from and (facilitated by Kevin and Bridget Deegan-Krause).

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The funding was used to purchase a backpack for each child in Ferndale's Head Start program. The backpack was assigned to a student with a wish list of essential items.

They included:

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Children’s toothpaste
  • Children’s toothbrush
  • Reading book (for ages 3-4)
  • Coloring book
  • Crayons (large size)
  • Three-pack of underwear
  • Two-piece sweat suit or a sweatshirt and sweatpants

A representative from each of the four groups took a backpack and purchased the items for the students. The backpacks will be taken to the school Friday for distribution.

"How anyone would say no, I don't know," said John Kozich, a spokesman for Credit Union One.

The Head Start program, housed at , is a national educational program to help low-income families with young children get educational services.

Coulter said he'd like to expand the program next year to encompass the entire Grant Early Education building.

For seven years, Coulter has participated in a similar program through his church in Warren and decided to bring the idea to Ferndale.

Head Start is administered by OLSHA and is operated by the Ferndale Public School District.


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