HOUSTON - Several residents of Okolona took advantage of the beautiful weather last Saturday to install a raised bed to grow winter vegetables as part of a nutrition component to the outreach program.

Director Carla James said the idea for the family garden came from Baby Steps founder and Okolona native, William Raspberry.

"It was Mr. Raspberry's idea to get the families and the Okolona community involved in growing things of their own," James said.

She enlisted the help of members of the Chickasaw County Master Gardeners and the families involved in Baby Steps to construct the bed and plant winter mustard greens and cabbage.

Baby Steps, Inc. was founded by Raspberry four years ago and is now supported by a grant from the W. W. Kellogg Foundation. James is hands-on in the community seeking out families and the facility now serves 40 area families with a focus on teaching parents how to assist their children and give them a healthy head start in life. Baby Steps serves children from birth to five years and works with parents and care givers to promote language and literature in the home to foster a smooth transition into school and also focuses on good health through nutrition and healthy choices within the home.

Wessie Williams has been involved with Baby Steps and said that she was pleased with program's goals and assistance.

"It has really helped us out a lot with our grandkids," Dye said. "It's the best place we can come to."

Wienie Herron's daughter, Kieayla, now four, was the first client James had. Kieayla was born premature, but now is a very active, healthy little girl, who spent her Saturday morning planting flowers and helping with the garden. "It's more of a family thing to get involved with the kids," Herron said. "It's a wonderful thing."

The program has sponsored several health walks and health fairs in the community for the general public and also incorporated a father's imitative.

Omar Moore is a Baby Steps board member and has been held three Fishing with Fathers events.

"The idea came from Carla's son," Moore said. "It didn't come from any adults. We were talking about ways to get fathers involved with their children and getting kids involved in decision making. Donuts with Dads came up and he suggested Fishing with Fathers."

Moore donated the use of his land and pond for the event and saw great results.

"I thought it was a nice idea," Moore said. "None of us had any idea it would be so successful. It's a very spiritual thing to see kids with their fathers sharing quality time in a family outing."

The Family Garden has been planted, like the seeds the Baby Steps program plants, and the families will now wait for their efforts to take root and grow. James hopes that this spring, the program will be able to move the garden to a larger location to serve as a true community garden for the residents of Okolona.

For information on Baby Steps, Inc. and the programs it offers, contact James at 447-5040.