MIRANDA JAMISON Lead Reporter Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series about Missouri Valley Community Action Agency’s programs in Ray County which help families overcome poverty through early education, childcare and support services. Families across Ray County often face the same daunting question: how do you get ahead when there isn’t enough to cover childcare, food and the basic necessities? For many, the answer starts with a quiet building on the edge of Richmond, where staff members greet each parent and child by name. The Missouri Valley Community Action Agency’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs are cornerstones of that effort. While their mission is simple – to help families overcome poverty – the reality is a patchwork of resources, services and personal connections stitched together by advocates like Connie Yoakum. “Our main goal is to give them resources and find ways to help our families overcome poverty and offer their children a good education,…