DURANT, Miss. -- The Early Years Network and Durant Excel by 5 Coalition invite parents and young children to attend a grand opening event for the new North Central Mississippi Resource and Referral Center on Aug. 2.

The open house at 515 Northwest Ave. in Durant will be from 3-5 p.m. Following a brief ceremony, staff and Early Years Network personnel will be on hand to visit with patrons and community members.

Durant Excel by 5 will host an evening event for the community from 6-8 p.m. During this time, Early Years Network experts will share tips on reading with children of different ages and give away books at a parent engagement station. 

North Central Mississippi Resource and Referral Center will have books, equipment, educational toys, teaching resources and special-needs materials for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children available for check out to families and early care and education providers. For more information, call 662-639-2419.

Light refreshments will be provided at the open house.

The Early Years Network is a program housed in the MSU Extension Service and funded by the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Early Childhood Care and Development to provide early care and education programs and materials for teachers, directors, children and families to improve the well-being of Mississippi’s children. For more information, visit the Early Years Network Facebook page or http://earlyyearsnetwork.msucares.com.