Community Celebration Connects Families with Resources
One of the first tasks completed after our Action Forum was the creation of a community directory. Many directories have been distributed, but that doesn’t substitute for actually connecting with some of the service providers. During the Horizons Community Celebration a number of programs set up tables and visited with community members attending the supper. Public health, the Neighborhood Center (fuel assistance, food pantry), Child Care Resource and Referral, Social Security, Master Gardener, Methodist Church Food Pantry, local banks, and Henry A Wallace Country Life Center all had someone there to visit with people. Of course, copies of the resource directory were available, too.
The Adair County Hot Shots 4-H club and Growing Strong Families program had kids activities which were very popular. All segments of the community were represented in the approximate 175 attendance. Families with young children, teens, business community members, religious leaders, elderly, and residents with disabilities.
The Food for All Task Force established the celebration as a drop off point for food or cash to support local food pantries. 105.85 in cash was collected along with approximately 200 food items. These items help stock nearly empty shelves at the two local food pantries.