G

ood things are happening in Vicksburg. A preschool celebrated a birthday, a fundraiser for the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation was successful and a facility has recently opened to accommodate children who need a little extra care.

Hawkins United Methodist Church preschool has been offering its services to the community for 38 years and to celebrate, a birthday party was held.

Thirty-eight might not be the most common number of years to celebrate, but the church has been taking a look back at its past and the preschool is one of its outreaches to celebrate, Hawkins UMC program director Julie Townley said.

During the celebration, students sang songs including Happy Birthday, counted to 38, ate cake and then went outside to blow bubbles.

On Saturday, more than 100 people turned out for the first ever Shrimp and Gritz, a fundraiser held in the courtyard of SCHC, with proceeds benefiting the convent.

“I just thought how nice that the community, even beyond Vicksburg, has reached out to help with the convent,” executive director of the SCHF Stacey Massey said.

In January, the east wall of the convent collapsed, and the SCHF has been in the process of raising money to repair the historical structure, which is one of five buildings that make up the center.

During the event, Gritz the Band performed, which sparked the name of the event, and The Gumbo Pot provided a meal of shrimp and grits.

Caring Hands Pediatric Extended Care of Vicksburg opened its doors this summer at 3419 Wisconsin Ave.

The center is called a PPEC or prescribed pediatric extended care, which means referred children with medical needs can receive care from a staff of nurses.

“We are a skilled nursing facility for children with special medical needs,” corporate administrator Ginger McBride said.

Some of those medical needs include tube feedings, ventilator care, oxygen saturation monitoring or treatment for seizure disorders. Nurses and direct care workers make up the staff with in-house occupational, physical and speech-language therapy contracted with an outside company. The nurses continue some of the therapy, like stretching exercises, throughout the day with the children.