Making connections at the La Grange Public Library
By Joyce Ellison, Resource Specialist/Social Worker
Breakfast , Lunch and Dinner. For many, these meals are things we take for granted and do not worry about, but for 41 million Americans food insecurity is a problem. According to the USDA, 87.5 percent of US households suffered from food insecurity in 2021; that total includes 5.1 million children. Due to COVID, job layoffs, and the state of the economy, that number is increasing.
Two local organizations are taking steps to fight this problem in our communities. On November 22, 2022, Neuse Regional Libraries partnered with The Goldsboro Family YMCA’s Mobile Markets for the first time at La Grange Public Library in an effort to combat food insecurity for community members. The Mobile market offered members of the community access to fresh produce, canned goods, meats and other non-perishable food items.
The Mobile Market, led by Louise Little, Community Impact Lead Assistant at the Goldsboro Family YMCA, was able to serve 43 households and 109 family members, giving away 800 pounds of food. Volunteers from Jumping Run Church joined me in assisting with the distribution of the food. ”Volunteers are a valuable and vital part of being able to provide this service to the people that need it,” said Mrs. Little. Velma Harris, another member of the Jumping Run Volunteer Team, was also able to provide 30 free coats to the members of the community that needed one.
This program is just one example of the many new services I hope to assist the Library in offering to our community. My name is Joyce Ellison, and I recently began as a Resource Specialist/ Social Worker at Neuse Regional Libraries with the Let’s Connect Program. My job as the Resource Specialist is to find out what agency resources and information are available in the community as well as the process for navigating them, so I can successfully connect people to the services that they need.
In this new role, I provide information to the community members on a variety of issues and concerns including, but not limited to, access to transportation, housing, mental health services, WIC services and Medicaid/food nutrition services applications. II am also available to work one on one directly with community members at the Library in Kinston during my drop in hours on Mondays from 1:00pm to 3:00pm and on Fridays from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. I can be reached at (252) 527-7066 ext. 123 or at letsconnect@neuselibrary.org. We hope that if you or anyone you know is looking for assistance in finding help through community resources that you will visit us or give us a call.
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