MOSES LAKE - Family Services of Grant County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently at their Moses Lake facility.

The 4,600 square-foot addition to the Denise Schmidt Center in Moses Lake provides space for Head Start and toddler programs.

The expansion allowed Family Services of Grant County to take on 36 new families, bringing the total number of infants, toddlers and preschoolers they serve to 265.

"The pennies we're investing in families today is going to pay off generation after generation in the success of those children and those children becoming parents and those children becoming parents after that, as you create this whole culture shift of people finishing school, finishing their education, getting careers and becoming productive members of the community," said Jeff Ketchel, president of the Family Services of Grant County board. "And so, with this wonderful addition you might think, 'Well how much did this cost?' I'm telling you, it's pennies down payment for what you're going to get back for your children, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren."

"Our children are challenged from the day they're born," he said. "They're challenged because their parents are financially challenged and the American Psychiatric Association states that children who are born with those types of challenges are going to have trouble finishing school. They're going to have problems with their health. They might have trouble learning. But Head Start makes a difference."

Amanda Robles, president of the organization's policy council, knows that firsthand. Family Services of Grant County helped her build an educational relationship with her children, she said.

She expressed frustration about people who don't support the Head Start program.

"I believe they stereotype us, but really we're just the same as all of you," she said. "We're just struggling to get on that step."