PHILLIPS – Some Community Concepts Head Start children are learning what happens when they put a lot of nickels together.

The Phillips Public Library is celebrating its fifth year by collecting a lot of nickels – a mile of them – and they have invited the children to help kick off their celebration.

It takes approximately 75,912 nickels to reach a mile. That’s 832.6 pounds or 17.5 gallons and it will equal $3795.60 to benefit the library, which has a grant that will provide matching funds for whatever is raised.

Librarian Hedy Langdon spoke about the partnership between Head Start and the Phillips Library. “We support them, and they support us,” she said. “I love working with the children. Two of my kids went to Head Start.”

Langdon plans special activities for the Head Start children, who visit about once a month. Each visit includes an activity, a snack and a book related to the theme. Previous visits have included a party for Dr. Suess’ birthday, scarecrow-themed activities in the fall and flower-planting in the spring.

Recently Community Concepts Head Start teacher Vicki Parlin helped the children donate the nickels they have collected and placed in a big glass jar. She also talked about how much they appreciate the library.

“Library visits are some of our favorite activities,” she said. “It’s been excellent – we couldn’t have done without it.”

Community Concepts operates 16 Head Start and Early Head Start sites in Franklin and Oxford counties. Head Start is a preschool program for children ages 3 to 5 that focuses on each child’s educational, social, medical and nutritional needs. For more information on the program, call the Wilton Office at 645-9512 or go online at www.community-concepts.org.

The Phillips Public Library is open Wednesdays through Saturdays and Hedy Langdon can be reached at 639-BOOK or online at www.phillips.lib.me.us.