OCEANSIDE — The Winter Community Resource Fair will bring together a wide variety of community services for low-income families, individuals and veterans at the Civic Center Library Jan. 30.
This first of its kind resource fair is targeted to help those who are most in need.
“We’re getting all types of resources to people who need them and making the community aware of what types of resources that are available,” Monica Chapa Domercq, principal librarian, said.
More than 20 organizations will be on hand to share information on a variety of low-cost and no-cost services.
“We got a good response from nonprofits, government agencies, job corps — all low-cost or free services,” Chapa Domercq said.
Services run the gamut from employment assistance, to education, health care, substance abuse recovery, legal aid, housing, veteran services and tax preparation.
“Some offer classes on computers, tax assistance — a variety of things that we see community members expressing a need for,” Chapa Domercq said.
Vista Community Clinic, Camp Pendleton Counseling Services and North County Coastal Career Center will be a few of the organizations at the fair.
The North County Coastal Career Center provides workshops, resume reviews, one-on-one job counseling, and services for veteran returning to the civilian workforce.
“Veteran speak a unique language,” Steven Segobiano, veteran employment representative, said. “We can help them translate what they have done in the military to civilian terminology. The employment counselors are veterans themselves.”
The North County Coastal Career Center also has a database of available jobs and frequently holds job fairs where individuals can meet face to face with employers and be hired on the spot.
The Winter Community Resource Fair is sponsored by the Oceanside Public Library. It is being held in response to the many requests the library staff has received on how to contact community service organizations.
“This is the first time we’ve done something like this,” Chapa Domercq said. “We’ve seen this winter be particularly tough on people. We’ve seen a lot of people in crisis.”
In addition to providing information on community services the event will also include some fun giveaways.
“We’re offering hourly drawings,” Chapa Domercq said. “We’ll give out things like emergency kits, backpacks — things that are helpful to people during this time. To give them a sense of community and a sense that we care.”
The Winter Community Resource Fair will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Civic Center Library Community Room.
