Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing is nostranger to volunteering his and his deputies’ time to childrenthroughout the community.

    The Mississippi Action for Progress, Inc. (MAP) recognized all hisefforts over the past year at its 45th annual state convention inJackson last Thursday when he was named Region 2 Volunteer of theYear.

    “It is a real honor to win it for Region 2,” Rushing saidWednesday. “Kids have always been a real big thing with me, and Itry to do anything I can for them that will have a positiveinfluence.”

    Rushing was nominated by the New Zion Head Start program in BogueChitto for Region 2, which consists of Lincoln, Franklin, Claiborneand Warren counties.

    “Sheriff Rushing always supports the Head Start by fingerprintingall the children, supplying material for learning and conductingworkshops for the staff on safety issues, just to name a few of themany things he and the department do for the program,” said NewZion Head Start staff member Jacqueline D. Harris in a statement.”We serve 88 families here, and we would like to thank the Sheriffand his staff for their support.”

    Rushing, recently re-elected to his second full term, remainshumble through the recognition of his efforts to better thecommunity.

    “This (award) is for everyone here at the department,” he said.”It’s for the work we do as a whole. Again, it’s a real honor, butwe don’t look for awards. We’re here to serve, and it’s a realprivilege to be recognized.”

    The Sheriff’s Office works with Head Start programs around thecounty, Rushing said, and one of his main missions is to helpchildren become more comfortable around law enforcement.

    “Especially at the early age, we try to be active and involved,” hesaid. “You’ll see some of them are scared of law enforcement. Butwhat we do makes them more comfortable around us and let’s them seethat we’re here to serve and not to intimidate.”

    Rushing went on to say the efforts of the department actually docreate a positive impact on the children.

    “They’re fascinated by our visits,” he said. “And then they’ll comeup to you if they see you in public and talk to you. They rememberwho you are.”

    The MAP and Head Start programs primarily work with preschool-agedchildren of low-income families to instill change and developmentin disadvantaged communities, according to MAP’s website. Part oftheir philosophy is that “every child deserves a head start in life- an equal opportunity to develop character, talent, mind, body andpersonality.”

    According to Harris, MAP serves 25 regions in Mississippi andimpacts 6,191 families throughout the state.

    Rushing said the influence the programs have on the children isseen down the line in their lives.

    “It’s a great thing,” he said. “It’s good to realize the effortsare having a positive impact on children in the community. And ofcourse, anything we can do as a department to help them out, wewant to do.”