TOWNLEY — U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama) recently spent time in Walker County, visiting with Head Start students in two classes at the Townley Community Center.
Britt said she was invited to see the positive impacts of Head Start classes in Walker County less than a month ago and placed the visit as a priority to make happen within her first 60 days in office.
“I came here to listen, to learn and to see first hand,” Britt told a crowd of community leaders who welcomed her to the area. “The reason that I ran for the United States Senate is I believe in our state. I believe we have a great state with great people, and we have a great story to tell.
“Coming from a rural part of the state myself, I understand that many times the great work that you do is overlooked, but if you do not give these children hope, if you do not give them a foundation — whether it is through reading, skills, love or hope — many of the trajectories of their lives would be very different,” Britt added. “I want to be your partner. I want to stand next to you as you make things better for these children and children down the street.”
Britt spent more than an hour playing with students in their classrooms. She also read “Green Eggs and Ham” to the students.
“I want Alabama to be a place where no child’s zip code actually determines their opportunity,” Britt said. “Head Start changes the lives of these children. This is the foundation.”
Connie Rowe, senior advisor to Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, welcomed Britt to Walker County and introduced her to the crowd at Townley.
“I think she is going to surpass any representation that we’ve ever had in D.C. I hope she’ll be our senator for a very long time, but I think the sky is the limit for her, not only in this state but in this country,” Rowe said. “I’m very happy to call her my friend, and I’m very happy that she does things like this, stopping in a small area of Alabama to see what people like y’all are doing and how significant it is.”
Jasper Area Family Services Center Executive Director Donna Kilgore thanked Britt for visiting the classrooms. The JAFSC oversees 13 Head Start classes at six sites around the county.
“We’re thrilled to have Sen. Britt here to see what we’re doing and seeing Head Start in action,” Kilgore said. “We’re so grateful for all her support.”
