2023-09-22 04:06:54
Sara Hess, community impact director for the United Way, speaks to Nacy Lupardus regarding the 211 program Thursday for a community resource event held in the Big Sandy Superstore parking lot. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Montgomery Lupardus, 5, plays with a ring toss game Thursday during a community resource event held in the Big Sandy Superstore parking lot. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Sara Hess, community impact director for the United Way, speaks to Nacy Lupardus regarding the 211 program Thursday for a community resource event held in the Big Sandy Superstore parking lot. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
PARKERSBURG — A community resource event sponsored by Legal Aid of West Virginia was held Thursday in the parking lot of Big Sandy Superstore with more than 50 vendors on hand to provide information for students and their parents.
“Most of the agencies work with youth,” Tammy Ketchem, behavior health advocate with Legal Aid of West Virginia, said. “A lot of them might work with the families, the parents, that kind of thing.”
Vendors available included the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia, Artsbridge, Coplin Health Services, the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley and The Health Plan, a clinically-driven, technology-enhanced, and customer-focused health maintenance organization that manages and improves the health and well-being of its members.
“It’s nice to see all the agencies here today,” County Outreach Liaison for The Health Plan Sheri Bond said. “We’re here to kind of educate people on Medicare and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). Just trying to keep their health up-to-date.”
Ketchem said 1,700 flyers were sent to all the elementary schools in Wood County in an effort to get the word out to more students and their parents. She said there was also activities for the kids to enjoy while learning regarding the services available to them.
Montgomery Lupardus, 5, plays with a ring toss game Thursday during a community resource event held in the Big Sandy Superstore parking lot. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
“Each of the agencies has their games set up for the kids to play, or gifts and stuff to give out to them,” Ketchem said. “So, it’s focusing on the kids, getting the kids out.”
Parkersburg resident Nancy Lupardus said she babysits her grandson, 5-year-old Montgomery Lupardus, following school and received the flyer he brought home.
“I saw it and said, ‘I’m going to take him to this,’” Lupardus said.
She said he was enjoying himself and that it was nice to see all the services available.
Ketchem said this was the first community resource event they’ve held but it wouldn’t be the last.
“We’re going to do it once more,” Ketchem said.
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com
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