Three upcoming events will provide free resources for physical and mental health needs, senior citizens and help with home maintenance.
Residents are going to have the chance to receive help with household projects for free as part of a church service day.
The Eudora Baptist Church hopes to collaborate with other churches this year. So far, Eudora Community Church will also participate.
Emily Bromley is a member of the Baptist church helping to organize the event. She said they served eight families last year and hope to expand the project this fall.
“Well, it’s a tangible way to reach people that are in need, no matter where they are in their walk of life,” Bromley said. “I just think it’s a great way to meet people and tell them about God and what an impact it’s had in our life,but also just to help our community.”
Last year, about 50 to 60 volunteers helped with brush removal, house painting, house siding, gutter cleaning and minor roof help, she said. They are unable to help with projects that need a city permit, and projects need to be completed in under eight hours.
The service day will be Oct. 12.
Churches interested in participating can email Bromley at [email protected].
To sign up to have a project completed, click here. The deadline to sign up is Sept 15.
Another event will help residents be proactive with their physical and mental health.
Eudora Community Navigator Laura Smith saw a need for a health resource fair after speaking with residents.
Smith set up the health resources fair with Engage Douglas County’s Eudora focus group. The fair will be from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 21 at the Eudora fire station.
The fair will have around 10organizations offering services like flu and COVID vaccines, eye tests and blood pressure checks. Bert Nash and DCCCA will also discuss behavioral health programs and services.
Smith said she hopes the fair can help show residents some of the health organizations that serve all of Douglas County.
“We need our citizens to know that five miles down the road, they have a very resource rich city that is offering services to the entire county,” she said. “A lot of them aren’t known about.”
The fair is also an opportunity to have residents stay up-to-date with their health.
“It’s the same reason you go get well visits,” she said. “Just touching base with your health.”
Smith said if anybody needs a follow-up appointment for things like poor vision or high blood pressure, the health organizations will help with referrals.
“They’re all just ready to help you with open arms,” she said.
Smith also said attendees can fill out the community needs assessment at the fair. The assessment allows residents to share what resources they need.
“I want to make sure they know their voices are heard,” she said.
The resource fair is a come-and-go event and no registration is necessary. Click here for the full list of services.
Another fair in September will focus on senior citizens.
The Senior Resource Center is hosting a volunteer expo to help nonprofits find volunteers and to help seniors find serving opportunities. The expo will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 11 at 745 Vermont St. in Lawrence.
Kim Luce, the center’s program coordinator, said she hopes this will give seniors the opportunity to find something they are passionate about while also helping organizations get more volunteers.
“I think it’ll be a great opportunity for people to connect in one way or another with organizations around the county,” Luce said.
The expo will host about 30 organizations from the Lawrence Humane Society to Habitat for Humanity. Luce said there will be something there for everybody.
“Providing an opportunity that people can find a new purpose with something that they’re passionate about. Plus, also finding connections with other people who have the same passions that they do. It’s kinda like a win-win,” Luce said.
Luce said volunteering can help seniors become healthier, both cognitively and physically.
“Because they’re just staying active, and they’re doing something that they love,” she said.
Luce encourages Eudora seniors to come to the expo so they can connect with new people and explore new opportunities.
There is no registration needed to attend the volunteer expo. A full list of the attending nonprofit organizations can be found here.
Reach reporter Ryn Drummond and Sara Maloney at [email protected]
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