Three local municipalities have agreed to contribute toward the cost of an event to increase awareness of and access to social services in Wellington County.
Mapleton council approved a request for $300 in funding from event organizer Mary Crome, a Wilfrid Laurier University social work student interning at the Legal Clinic Guelph-Wellington, at it’s Jan. 22 meeting.
The donation, as well another $300 Minto has already agreed to donate, will go toward the cost of bus transportation to the event. Wellington North has donated the use of the Arthur arena as a venue, valued at $631.
“Because I know well the nature of poverty in Wellington County and how, in many cases, poverty and homelessness can seem invisible in the county, I am putting together an event specifically designed to answer some of the challenges faced by rural residents of Wellington County who are living with poverty,” Crome stated in a letter to council.
The event, called Wellington County Community Connect (WCCC), will be held March 22 from 10am to 6pm at the Arthur arena, chosen for it’s central location in the county.
Crome explained WCCC will be a public open house/trade show highlighting social resources. The event is designed to give people who are living on less in the county access to a wide range of support services under one roof. Such services include housing, income, employment and parenting support, as well as counselling services.
The event will also feature free massage, haircuts, manicures, food, hygiene and clothing giveaways.
“The focus will be on service delivery as much as is possible, so that guests may leave with a task completed and arms full,” explained Crome.
She said the event will provide an opportunity for involvement by numerous sectors of the community.
“Guests will have access to the services needed in a format that allows for one-stop shopping,” she said.
“Service providers will have a much-needed opportunity to network, while performing outreach. Community members will have an opportunity to volunteer. Businesses will have an opportunity to give back to and invest in the community. The faith communities will have an opportunity to operate in the community by partnering with WCCC.”
Crome noted that needs assessments have highlighted transportation as a barrier in Wellington County, so a “collaborative transportation plan” including a partnership with local school bus companies has been arranged.
“I want residents of Mapleton to have access to this event,” she stated.
Crome said the target audience includes families and individuals living on low incomes and “the working poor” as well as the homeless and those at risk of homelessness.
