Seth Johnson
The Eastside Head Start Center opened in February 2023 and quickly filled all 60 student slots.
On Friday, the center, operated by Episcopal Children’s Services, and local officials celebrated the new playground. A $42,600 grant from the Wagmore Foundation allowed the center to renovate the space between two buildings from empty to filled with activities.
The Eastside center is located off Waldo Road just north of NE 16th Avenue. Martha Cox, senior director of grants and research, said Episcopal Children’s Services could triple their funding and still have families on the waiting list.
“We focus on serving the most vulnerable children, and so we look to have our centers located where it’s close to the families who need us the most,” Cox said.
Episcopal Children’s Services has 10 head start locations across Alachua County, and Cox said the team plans to launch an expanded location by Metcalfe Elementary School in the coming months.