Head Start Classroom Receives Early Christmas Gift

Christmas came early to a Head Start Classroom inside the East Creek Family Center in Chaska last week.

The nonprofit Christmas in May Chaska worked with Community Action Partnership of Scott, Carver & Dakota Counties Head Start Director Holly Schulz to give the classroom a fresh coat of white paint and a bit of cheer on May 5.

“We were very excited,” Head Start teacher Tiffany Habisch said about learning her classroom was selected as a recipient of the organization’s generosity. “We’re fortunate and blessed. The kids in the class were really excited."

The Head Start classroom is home to 16 pre-school students aged 3 to 5.

The students don’t mean to be destructive, but a ding here, a dent there, sticky fingers touching the walls and the normal wear and tear of activity during the school year can leave the room’s walls in need of repair. Normally, either the facility or Head Start staff would paint the classroom once a year.

This year, Christmas in May Chaska, which was formed in 1996 to repair and spruce up households with disabled or the elderly individuals or households with low-incomes, decided to give their time and hours to a classroom that affects 16 students, 15 families and Head Start staff.

“This year, we decided we’d like to do a community project, not a single home,” said Board Chair Matt Podhradsky, who is also the Chaska City Administrator. The Head Start Classroom project is one of 6 the organization plans to complete by the end of May.

Chaska city employees volunteered to assist with the project. DDK Construction donated a lockable cabinet for staff to use to store classrom items.

“It’s a great collaboration,” Head Start Director Holly Schulz said. “This shows kids how important it is to be a part of the community.”

Next year, CAP Scott, Carver & Dakota Counties Volunteer Coordinator Nate Bostrom said the agency will participate in Christmas in Chaska, but this time by agency staff volunteering their time and giving back to the community.

Learn more about Christmas in May Chaska at christmasinmaychaska.org

Find additional information about CAP Scott, Carver & Dakota Counties at capagency.org