Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Learning to survive ... Techtoberfest event was a rousing success ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Hillary Clinton’s big night ... Our View: Learning to survive ... Techtoberfest event was a rousing success ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Hillary Clinton’s big night ... ASHLAND COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER Family Fest offers back-to-school giveaway Comment By Angela Decker For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker For the Tidings Posted Aug. 21, 2015 at 7:54 PM By Angela Decker For the Tidings Posted Aug. 21, 2015 at 7:54 PM » RELATED CONTENT • New program helps out-of-work Ashlanders find jobs • A place for food and fellowship • Ashland Community Resource Center celebrates a year of showers for the homeless... » Social News Free backpacks, school supplies and haircuts for kids are just part of the Ashland Community Resource Center’s celebration of the back-to-school season. The Ashland Community Family Fest runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the ACRC facility on 570 Clover Lane in Ashland, next door to the Ashland Food Bank near Exit 19. The event will also feature free activities for kids, such as face painting, ring toss and other carnival-style games, Legos, music and prizes. “This is a fun event with local volunteers, and anyone in the community is welcome,” said ACRC Executive Director Leigh Madsen. Madsen says the festival is a great time for parents to learn about assistance services. “We find that a lot of people just don’t know what is available to them in the area. A big part of our goal is to educate community members who are struggling with poverty about what they can access in the valley,” he said. While kids are getting their face painted or building LEGO skyscrapers, parents can sign up for needed assistance and learn about job, health and housing resources in the area. “We’ll have a lot of services and people to help with various needs. There will be people from La Clinica, South Valley Self Sufficiency Office, Jackson County Fuel Committee, the food bank, and someone to help sign people up for Oregon Health Plan, and a lot more,” said Madsen. The ACRC is a partnership between the Community Action Agency of Jackson County (ACCESS), which helps provide education and emergency services to low-income families, and Options for Homeless Residents in Ashland (OHRA). This is the second year ACRC and ACCESS have teamed to make the back-to-school giveaway a festive time for families. “Our goal is to provide needed school supplies and haircuts for kids, but in a circus-like atmosphere," Madsen said. "Haircuts and backpacks can add up and we want to help out. No one has to stand in line like it’s a charity, everyone can enjoy themselves.” ACRC provides a wide variety of services intended to assist homeless or at-risk families and individuals, including job-search assistance, showers, laundry, backpack storage, mailing address, Internet access, clothing, hygiene supplies, bus tokens, gas money and resource referrals. “One thing we want to emphasize is that ACRC isn’t just a place to go for services, we’re a community. We want folks to come down with their families, enjoy the festivities and get to know the whole community,” said Madsen. For information or to volunteer, visit www.accesshelps.org or call 541-821-8523. The Ashland Community Resource Center is at 572-B Clover Lane, Ashland, next door to the Ashland Emergency Food Bank. Its regular open hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Reach Ashland freelance writer Angela Decker at [email protected]. By Angela Decker For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker For the Tidings Posted Aug. 21, 2015 at 7:54 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501