Westerly Sun Column | Community Resource Fair Offers Options

South County offers wide array of social services and resources to improve the lives of our residents, from infants to older adults. Still, it can be difficult to know exactly what services each organization offers, and to whom, and under what circumstances. If this resonates at all with you, I invite you to join us at the library this Saturday, May 3rd, for our second annual Community Connection Resource Fair, where you can learn more about the various services that are available, straight from the sources.

The theme of this year’s fair is “Every Neighbor Counts”, and we will be joined by more than 20 different local organizations that work with residents of all ages and backgrounds to offer support, guidance, and resources. The full list of organizations is on our website at www.westerlylibrary.org, but it includes the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Wellness Collaborative, Tri-County Community Action, and Project Outreach Veteran’s Assistance.

In addition to the valuable information that you’ll garner from attending, there will also be various forms of entertainment throughout the event. Provided the weather cooperates, everything will take place out in beautiful Wilcox Park, and we will have a couple of bands serenading us from the gazebo, a storytime for children around 12:30, and even a magician! We know kids can get fidgety, so there will be plenty of bubbles and hula hoops distract them and help get that energy out. In the event of rain, the event will be moved inside the library, but keep your fingers crossed for a warm and sunny day so we can enjoy the park!

Throughout the month of April, we’ve been collecting donations of food items for the Jonnycake Center of Westerly, and you all have been so amazingly generous! This food drive will end this Saturday, after our resource fair, so there is still time to go through your cabinets or make a trip to the store for food to share with your neighbors. All donations of unexpired, nonperishable items are appreciated, but the Food Pantry is especially grateful for diapers and wipes, snack and lunch food for children, canned foods, and “extras” such as coffee and condiments. As the pantry notes, these non-essential items, like a cup of coffee in the morning or a side of ketchup, are often the first to go when budgets get tight, and access to such simple pleasures can make a big difference in someone’s day!

If you have any questions about the food drive or Community Connections, feel free to give us a call at (401) 596-2877. We’re so thankful to the wonderful organizations who agreed to join us this Saturday, and we hope you will come join us.

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian