Parent Resource Center at Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library receives support from United Way and Excel By 5

Published 4:09 pm Monday, July 31, 2023

: Representatives from the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library, United Way of West Central Mississippi, Vicksburg Warren School District and Vicksburg National Military Park look at new items for the library's Parent Resource Center. On July 28, the United Way of West Central Mississippi and Excel By 5 donated sensory toys and bags for story kits to the library. Pictured are, from left, Virginia Campbell, David Scott, Marie Cunningham, Brendan Wilson and Michelle Connelly. (Photo By Terri Cowart Frazier | The Vicksburg Post)

The United Way of West Central Mississippi and Excel By 5 made a presentation to the Parent Resource Center at the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library on July 28.

Sensory toys geared toward children with special needs were donated by Excel By 5 and the United Way provided bags for the library’s story kits, which are comprised of a book and a corresponding plush toy for children.

“We are deeply grateful for the support given to the WCVPL by the United Way and Excel By 5,” WCVPL children’s librarian Marie Cunningham said. “They (the United Way) have supported us in the 10 years I have been at the library without any hesitation.”

The Parent Resource Center is a collaboration between the library and Excel By 5 and was created in 2018. Cunningham said it continues to be an ongoing project which provides parents in the Vicksburg community access to educational materials for their children from birth to age 5.

The resource center is located on the lower level of the library, and anyone with a library card is eligible to check out story kits and/or sensory toys.

Michele Connelly, who is the executive director of the UWWCM, said Excel By 5 is a coalition of people who want to see children in the Vicksburg community excelling before they enter kindergarten.

To assist in this endeavor, Connelly said, Excel by 5 partners with the Vicksburg Warren School District because it already has preschools in the school district and because the school district knows what skills will be needed before children enter kindergarten.

“So it’s this coalition’s responsibility to make sure that we are sharing that with parents and that we are sharing that with early education centers,” Connelly said.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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