Community resources shared in time for back-to-school

A packed parking lot and lines out the door awaited folks attending Project Community Connect at the Runestone Community Center (RCC) on Thursday.

The event, hosted by United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties and the Community Impact Coalition, was designed to help people in the community gain access to available resources.

Forty booths featuring health and human service agencies sprawled across the RCC floor. Back-to-school backpacks for elementary and secondary students were stacked in the bleachers.

Assistance with finding employment, how to deal with homelessness, chemical dependency, abusive relationships, debt, legal issues, and information about utility bills were provided, as was a free meal for those who made the trip to the RCC. A food drop began after lunch was served.

For more information on the United Way and upcoming events, visit www.uwdp.org.

Crystal Dey

Crystal Dey is a staff reporter for the Echo Press. Originally from Minnesota’s Iron Range, Dey worked for newspapers in North Dakota, Florida and Connecticut before returning to her home state to join the Echo Press in October 2011. Dey studied Mass Communications at Minnesota State University Moorhead with an emphasis in Online Journalism. Follow Staff Reporter Crystal Dey on Twitter at @CrystalDey_Echo.

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