Pictured: Rosie Allen, Sandra Jenkins, Major Joel Shores, Lt. John McIntyre, and Maggie Singleton.

On January 24, 2020 Maggie Singleton, the Early Head Start Family Manager and Mental Health/Disabilities Coordinator at the Cleveland County Partnership for Children was contacted by the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office prior to the holidays. The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office inquired about the needs of Early Head Start families. In short time, she learned the Sheriff's Office would like to adopt fourteen families and provide Christmas gifts for them.

During the January 23rd CCPFC Board Meeting, Board Chair, Sandra Jenkins presented a special award for Outstanding Community Support to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office. Major Joel Shores and Lt. John McIntyre accepted the award.

Mrs. Jenkins said, "Anne Frank said 'How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world'. I'm thankful for the compassionate and serving hearts God has blessed our community with."

Rosie Allen, CCPFC Executive Director, said, "These wonderful gifts to the families represented the best of giving to the working poor. Early Head Start families have annual incomes of $12,300 to $20,000 a year. Without the outstanding "gift-giving" of the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, there would have been very few if any Christmas gifts for the families."

"After delivering the gifts, our Officers were very touched by the appreciation expressed by the families." Major Joel Shores said. "They all agreed to do much more of this!" The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office also provided Christmas gifts for an additional sixteen families they identified. About 100 children had experienced a Christmas they will always remember.

The Cleveland County Partnership for Children serves over 4,000 little children under the age of 5 through high quality early care, education and family support programs. Their mission is to help young children in Cleveland County grow up in strong, healthy, self-sufficient families and arrive at kindergarten ready for success in school. The Cleveland County Partnership for Children is a nonprofit located in Kings Mountain, NC.

For more information contact Rosie Allen, Executive Director at 704-734-2052 ext. 104 or Rosie.Allen@ccpartnershipforchildren.com