PRESS RELEASE

PRESCOTT — The youngest students at Prescott Elementary School (PES) will receive a gift over the summer in partnership with two local organizations.

PES kindergarten and first grade students will be provided a book to take home near the end of the current school year, thanks to an effort by First United Methodist Church (FUMC) and Hamilton Haven.

Ferncliff Camp & Conference Center, a nonprofit organization just west of Little Rock known for its summer camp program, had books in a warehouse which were purchased by FUMC. Those books were in turn donated to Hamilton Haven for coordination with PES.

 “We would like to thank Hamilton Haven and First United Methodist Church for their generosity in donating books for our kindergarten and first grade students, said PES Principal Kimberly Grimes. “We appreciate their support of our students and our school.”

Hamilton Haven is a nonprofit in Prescott which provides emergency, short-term housing to those temporarily displaced.

“Hamilton Haven and First United Methodist Church have worked together on community efforts in the past,” said Leslie Hughes, Hamilton Haven Administrative Assistant. “We look forward to helping the children of our community.”

John Noggle is the current pastor of FUMC, located on West 2nd Street in Prescott.

“Reading was encouraged in our home at an early age,” said Hamilton Haven Executive Director Michele Hamilton Rhodes, whose parents were educators. “It’s just exciting to see young people reading while growing and developing educationally.”

FUMC and Hamilton Haven personnel are scheduled to meet at PES on May 17 to deliver the books and meet with students.

 “Both our groups continue to focus on serving our community and lifting up its citizens,” said Hughes. “We look forward to helping the children of our community with this project.”