It's no secret that a lot of families in the area are hurting emotionally, physically or financially these days. What is a secret is the widespread availability of local agencies eager to help ease the burden.
More than 100 of those agencies will be together in one room on Tuesday, Jan. 18 when Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 and Valley View Community Unit District 365U will co-sponsor a free Community Provider Resource Fair at the Romeoville Recreation Center, 900 W. Romeo Road (135th Street) about a mile east of Weber Road.
"Most people either don't feel at ease asking for help or they don't know how to find the help that they need." said Plainfield School District social worker Alan Bank, who is co-chair of the event. "This is a great opportunity for people who are afraid to reach out for assistance for themselves, for their family or their friends," he said.
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Representatives of a wide variety of service providers will be on hand from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. including township, county and state resources, counselors, health experts, a homeless liaison, housing, mortgage and general finance experts, and much more.
"There is a certain stigma or fear about counseling," said Kim Duris from Guiding Light, an outpatient mental health counseling group that will be at the Fair. "This is a nice way to be able to make the initial contact with people who can help you."
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"Reaching out for assistance can be a scary thing," added VVSD social worker Mary Davis, co-chair of the fair. "Help will be right there at your fingertips. Every service you could ever want is right there in the same room."
Fair attendees will receive a valuable resource manual with a listing of dozens of community agencies that can provide assistance for individuals or families. In addition, the Bolingbrook High School music department will provide entertainment and free popcorn will be available. Child care for attendees will be provided for $1.
"Given what's going on with the economy these days, a lot of families are hurting," said David Hehl, VVSD's Executive Director of Student Services. "People who live and work in our communities don't realize what great resources we have in this area to help them. Attending this fair will allow them to make those connections."
More information on the fair is available by calling 815-302-3895 or 815-886-2700, ext. 244
