Submitted by Castlegar and District Community Services Society
Castlegar Community Connect 2023 is happening on Thursday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Castlegar and District Community Complex. This free event is family-friendly and open to everyone. It is where you can learn about the wide range of services available from local agencies and organizations.
Browse the displays, chat with staff from various organizations, pick up some free winter wear, get support with filling out subsidy forms, and access take-home resources. There will be a free nutritious lunch provided, live musical entertainment from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a community art activity, children’s activities and some great door prizes to be won.
“The purpose of this event is to bring as many agencies and organizations together as possible, to share with our community the many supports and resources available to help folks live well and save money: and to have fun while doing it,” says Theresa Swan, event coordinator. “There are a lot of local supports in place for both families and individuals, and this is an event where those services come to you.”
This event is being coordinated through a partnership of several agencies and organizations: Castlegar and District Community Services Society (CDCSS), Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy, the Castlegar Integrated Services Collaborative, Kootenay IRIS and a host of volunteers.
“We are currently experiencing extremely high food, housing and gas costs. Sometimes we are raising a young family and caring for aging parents at the same time. Many are without stable housing and well-paying and sustainable employment opportunities – this is leading to serious financial hardships,” says Reidun Rosi, executive director at CDCSS.
“We hope to raise awareness about the many programs, services and resources available to support the well-being of people in our community. Increased awareness of available support can hopefully bring some relief to some families experiencing financial pressures.”
Admission is free and everyone is welcome, no registration required. Funding for this special event, that organizers hope to make annual, is provided by the ReDi Grant program (administered through RDCK) and Columbia Basin Trust. For more information contact Theresa at theresaswan.eventcoordinator@gmail.com.
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