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Helping Hand grads hail day nursery's newest site
By TIM GRANT, Times Staff Writer TAMPA -- One of Tampa's oldest African-American owned businesses kicked off Black History Month Friday by celebrating a milestone in its 75-year life span -- the grand opening of a new location. Prominent business and political leaders who were cared for at Helping Hand Day Nursery were invited to tour its newest center at 6406 N 43rd Street. "When I went there, it was just a small house on Central Avenue," said Tampa City Council member Gwen Miller. "To see how they've progressed from then to now is great for the students and the community." The new Helping Hand campus is one of four that are owned by the nonprofit United Way agency. It consists of two leased modular buildings on 7 acres in the Temple Terrace area purchased for $30,000. The four nurseries serve a total of 330 babies and children up to 5 years old. About 100 will attend this location. IBM donated six Young Explorer computers for children at the new center. "Many of these children are from low-income families," said Valerie Goddard, executive director. "That's our target population. The likelihood they have computers at home is slim, so having these computers enables them to have access at an early age." Founded in 1924, Helping Hand provided African-American families with a safe place for their children while parents worked. Its alumni roster reads like a Who's Who of prominent black Tampa residents, including Miller, former State Sen. James Hargrett and the late Sylvia Kimball, a former member of the Hillsborough County Commission. The Rev. Stephen Nunn, president of Helping Hand's board of directors, told the audience at Friday's event that the new center is the realization of a longtime dream. "Today we are moved with great emotion," said Nunn, pastor of Trinity Gospel Community Church. "We have made tremendous growth. This is a milestone we've accomplished here today." - Tim Grant can be reached at 269-5311, or at grant@sptimes.com.
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From the Times Sandra Thompson |
