Sporting leopard-ears on her head, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos made the trip to the Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley yesterday to celebrate the annual Boo at the Zoo Halloween event, put in some volunteer hours and talk about early childhood education.
From 11 a.m. to noon, she stood at the United Way of the Quad Cities Area booth greeting costumed families and signing them up for a free book program.
She tells WGIL United Way isn’t the only program fostering child education she supports.
“In my role as a member of congress, the Head Start program is actually funded through federal dollars, Bustos says, “and Head Start is a program that helps get under the age of five ready for kindergarten. I think it’s one of the best programs out there because for every dollar we invest in federal funds, you get a seven dollar return on investments. So that hard to be beat.”
The East Moline Democrat says Head Start is a big deal in the area.
“Knox County has a very strong Head Start program,” Bustos says. “I’ve played a role in getting funding for the Head Start program in Galesburg and in Knox County.”
Bustos, who’s husband is Rock Island County Sheriff Gerry Bustos, added that she enjoyed seeing children dressed as police officers at this year’s Boo at the Zoo.
