Historic resource fair for Strathmore

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

As employment insurance payments are tapering off for those who faced layoffs earlier last year and the Alberta economy continues to face stagnation, Strathmore will play host to a first-of-its-kind resource fair, aiming to connect residents with free services and agencies targeting all age groups from infants to seniors.
The Helping Hands Winter Gifts fair will feature information on free services provided by Strathmore and Wheatland County organizations, offer volunteer opportunities, and hand out donations – winter clothing, canned goods, baby items.
“Basically it’s all the non-profit and government agencies, and it’ll be the first in Strathmore’s history to have so many agencies in one spot,” said Richard Rodgers, director of Outreach.
“How the economy is right now, this year looks worse than last. People don’t even know what services are here. Sometimes the working class, they lose their jobs, and they’re proud and don’t want to be spotted at FCSS asking for food stamps or milk coupons. This is a chance for those lower income or people that need these services to be introduced to them.”
With numerous agencies already signed up, Rodgers expects 20 to 30 organizations to take part in the one-day event. Among the many resourceful organizations is the Strathmore Municipal Library, which has acted as a hub in the community for a number of years. The library also offers free programs – Baby Goose Rhyme Time, Crafternoon, movie showings, sign language, sewing and knitting courses, and so forth, as well as waived memberships for those who can’t afford the cost. The library will be able to showcase some of their programming and resources for all ages.
“Sometimes there are groups of people that it’s really hard for us to reach and this would be one of them, and we feel like we have so much to offer as a resource to families who are going through a tough time or who are just having a hard time making ends meet,” said Director of Library Services Rachel Dick Hughes, at the Strathmore Municipal Library.
“Because there is so much free programming and free resources here, we are excited about the chance to let them know that we’re here and that we can help them. It’ll just be nice to let people know that just because money is tight, it doesn’t mean the library is not open to them.”
The organizers are gathering donations including canned food items, warm clothing, blankets, toys, and infant items, as well as door prizes. If the resource fair proves beneficial for the town, Rodgers expects it will continue annually, at least until the economy recovers.
“If we can help 50 to 60 per cent of those people then it’s successful. These people are educated and they’re just down on their luck because of the economy and it’s out of their control. These people have been working for 20 years non-stop and they don’t know how to access these services that are available. I want everyone to know the services in Strathmore and the county.”
The Helping Hands Winter Gifts fair will take place on Jan. 30 from 10:30 a.m until 3:30 p.m. at the Livestock Pavilion building at the Strathmore Agriculture Grounds. For more information contact Richard Rodgers at 403.836.8745.