Head Start invites positive male role models to lunch, connect with kids

Clockwise from left: LaCheyla Curry, Jack McBride, Louie Owens, Noah Owens, Logan Patton and Elijah Owens eat lunch together during the 2007 100 Man Luncheon. The annual event that encourages community members and family to spend time with children at Callaway County Head Start is set to return.
Clockwise from left: LaCheyla Curry, Jack McBride, Louie Owens, Noah Owens, Logan Patton and Elijah Owens eat lunch together during the 2007 100 Man Luncheon. The annual event that encourages community members and family to spend time with children at Callaway County Head Start is set to return.

The men of Callaway County are invited to have a positive impact on children's lives March 5.

Fulton Head Start is hosting its annual 2013 100 Man Luncheon, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event invites men to enjoy lunch, stories and other activity with children in the program.

Fulton Head Start Director Donisha Ray said the luncheon was intended to give kids positive role models.

"In most of our families, there's a lot of single moms," said Ray. "We do it every year so we can get that male role model, and male involvement."

A federal program for preschool children in low-income families, Fulton's Head Start provides educational activities, assistance with medical and dental care, meals, snacks and supervision to Fulton's Head Start to 48 kids in the county.

Ray said she hopes to match each of those with at least one adult from the community for the event.

"I feel it helps them if they're growing up, we have a lot of boys here and it's always great to have that male person in their life," said Ray. "A lot of kids look up to males. Girls need that role model too."

The event is open to all people in the community, but Ray said it usually draws a strong showing from groups such as the Fulton Police Department, Fulton Fire Department and William Woods University's baseball team.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.