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Local Optimist Club Donates Reading Material to Childrens Center

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 10:18am | By: Van Arnold

Members of the Hattiesburg Noonday Optimist Club presented a basket of books to the Children's Center for Communication and Development on Monday, Jan. 31. Pictured, from left to right: Jeff Evans, past-president of the local Optimist Club; Lori Burgess, speech-language pathologist at the Children's Center; BreAnn Russell, speech-language pathologist at the Children's Center and Jennifer Ducksworth, president of the local Optimist Club. (Office of University Communications photo by Van Arnold)

As part of a community service project, representatives from the Hattiesburg Noonday Optimist Club delivered a basket of books to the Children's Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi on Monday, Jan. 31.

Jennifer Ducksworth, president of the local Optimist Club, noted that the contribution followed the organization's theme for 2011: “Bringing out the best in kids.”

“We are constantly looking for ways in which we can enhance the lives of children in the Hattiesburg area,” said Ducksworth. “This is our small way of giving back to the community.”

The Children's Center, a United Way agency, opened its doors in 1974 and currently serves approximately 80 children from the South Mississippi area. The center provides an interdisciplinary team approach to the assessment and treatment of communicatively and developmentally delayed children (birth to 5 years).

For more information about the Children's Center call 601.266.5222 or visit www.usm.edu/childrenscenter/index.htm

To learn more about the Hattiesburg Noonday Optimist Club, contact Ducksworth at 601.266.6189.