RECAP Hosts Awareness Breakfast

PORT JERVIS – Regional Economic Community Action Program hosted an Informational and Awareness Breakfast in Port Jervis on Thursday, August 25 to spotlight the Agency’s Head Start program. The morning event, at art gallery UpFront Exhibition Space on Front Street, featured stories from families with children who completed the early learning program. Parents commended the program’s staff for their support and encouragement, as well as the milestones their children experienced while enrolled. Also honored was newly-retired Family Advocate Joanne Reggio for her 36 years of service in various roles within the program.

Speakers included RECAP’s CEO Charles Quinn, Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker, and Valerie Maginsky from Port Jervis Community Development Agency. Topics included collaboration between RECAP and Port Jervis, statistics on the City’s population, housing, grants, and a recent popular story about an innovative approach to homework. Community members attended from local businesses and agencies, as well as from the Port Jervis Police Department and Orange County Chamber of Commerce. Breakfast of pastries, bagels, coffee and juice was catered by RECAP’s Middletown-based Fresh Start Café, a job-readiness program and café that teaches welfare recipients skills needed to succeed in the culinary field.

“It was great to open our doors to the community and have the response that we did,” said Head Start Director Heather Decker who spoke at the event and oversees the program as well as the centers in Middletown and Scotchtown. The morning concluded with an opportunity for the public to tour the nearby school.

Earlier in the week the school’s building was outfitted with a new awning, drawing attention to its presence just in time for the busy fall enrollment season. Interested applicants may call (845) 343-4191 for information or visit www.recap.org to print an application. Children must be age 3 by September 1, 2016 and family must meet federal income guidelines.