Join the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW), along with a large number of other nonprofit organizations and businesses, at North Central Michigan College from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 19. During Project Connect, attendees will explore a great deal of services offered to those in need. Free services will be provided by over 70 local, nonprofit agencies and businesses.

“If you or someone you know is struggling with financial problems, housing issues, employment challenges, or health concerns, please join us for a day of free services and get connected to people who can help,” says Dana Lorian, Project Connect Co-chair.

“The idea behind this special event is to help individuals and families gain access to the services they need, all under one roof, on one day,” says Lorian. “Understanding the complicated social services system can be a challenge and at Project Connect we will help direct you to agencies that can offer assistance in areas such as Education & Employment, Health & Wellness, Housing & Finance, and Kids & Parenting.”

HDNW will have many resources available, such as:

• Community Connections, a free resource that helps residents gain access to medical care, transportation, food, utilities, education and more,
• SAFE in Northern Michigan, creating environments free of substance use in Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties, and
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC), a program to support parents, foster families, and non-traditional caregivers for children under 5 years old, with monthly benefits to buy food, nutrition education counseling, breastfeeding support, immunization services, and additional social services.

Attendees can receive a free haircut and hot snack while learning about the area resources. The Veterans Corner returns this year, offering local veterans and their families the opportunity to meet with representatives from federal, state and county offices.

Lorian added: “Project Connect believes that by helping people on the road to a more self-sufficient life, we will, in turn, strengthen our community as a whole.”

No pre-registration is required, however, to register for assistance, it is recommended that you bring certain documents. For more details or to download a brochure, please visit  www.ProjectConnect231.com. You can register to volunteer at www.ProjectConnect231.com.

To get started with services offered by HDNW at Project Connect before you go, visit www.nwhealth.org or call us locally at 800-432-4121. To stay updated on the most relevant health news, click here to subscribe to our monthly newsletter. To contact Dana Lorian, email ProjectConnect231@gmail.com.