Parent Resource Night provides helpful information about local services, orgs

Union County’s parents had the unique opportunity Thursday night to learn about the many resources available locally thanks to the ACTIVE Coalition’s now-annual Parent Resource Night at the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado.

More than two dozen organizations set up booths complete with information booklets and representatives to explain the services to parents and the gymnasium at the BGCE was already abuzz with activity as the event began Thursday evening.

SHARE Foundation community impact manager Jill Weinischke broke briefly away from helping direct a parent to a table to explain the purpose of the yearly event.

“ACTIVE Coalition, which is a drug-free community grantee here in the area, wanted to do parent resource night. We’ve promoted the heck out of it this time and have close to 30 vendors here tonight with folks from all over,” Weinischke said.

Organizations present at the event ranged from healthcare agencies like SAMA Healthcare Services and Newhaven, nonprofit services such as Turning Point and the Hannah Pregnacy Resource Center, specific programs like the United Way’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library and much more.

Weinischke said parents were able to browse freely thanks to childcare provided by several local groups at the Boys and Girls Club.

“Childcare is being taken care of… by volunteers from Upward Bound, eXtreme Youth Programs and Camp Fire; they’re all providing childcare and activities.”

Activities later in the evening included a meal provided to parents and a mental health-focused presentation.

“It’s just a fun time,” Weinischke added.

Parents were able to learn about a variety of local and statewide services including Healthy Families Arkansas Thursday night at the ACTIVE Coalition’s Parent Resource Night. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)

United Way of Union County director Tyler Turner speaks with parents about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program that offers free books to children from birth until 5 years old. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)

(Matt Hutcheson/NewsTimes) The gym at the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado was a hive of activity Thursday night, as parents learned more about services and organizations like the Union County Cooperative Extension Office.

Numerous services such as the Early Childhood Center in Experiences in Learning were on hand Thursday night to tell parents about the resources they offer. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)