LEWISTON – Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care recently received a donation of more than 40 fleece blankets from Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland.

Residents Branden Staples and Matt Lavoie, both 18 years old, handmade the fleece blankets in two sizes, small for Head Start’s Early Head Start Center and large for Head Start students ages 3 to 5.

Staples and Lavoie presented the blankets to Androscoggin Head Start Staff at a recent staff training day. With the help of Dan Reardon, a volunteer with Long Creek, and Maria Dorn, chief of volunteer services at Long Creek, they carried in the blankets to applause. The blankets were distributed to Androscoggin Head Start’s 18 classrooms for the children to use.

The Long Creek Youth Development Center’s blanket group meets bi-weekly, with approximately 30 residents participating. This group makes and donates blankets as part of restorative justice.

Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care has provided child development services to pregnant women, families and children, newborn to age 5, for more than 40 years. Program options include full-day, half-day, home-based, family childcare and infant and toddler early Head Start. Centers are located in Lewiston, Auburn, Lisbon Falls, Livermore Falls, Mechanic Falls and Turner.

Applications are accepted at any time. Call 795-4040 or visit www.androkids.com for more information.