Families receive food, other assistance at open house

CALIPATRIA – The Calipatria-Niland Family Resource Center (CNFRC) opened its doors to the public during its open house event Tuesday morning.

Those in attendance were able to visit the Center’s clothing closet, food room, storage room and office – all of which the CNFRC uses to provide educational opportunities, activities and support services to Calipatria and Niland families.

At the time of the event, the Center’s storage room was filled with personal protective equipment, as well as diapers, available for families in need.

The center is located on the east end of the Calipatria High School campus.

Local agencies and organizations set up outreach and resource booths around the center for visitors.

Among the participating organizations were Imperial County Area Agency on Aging, Spread the Love Charity, El Centro Regional Medical Center, America’s Job Center of California, Imperial County Department of Social Services, Imperial County Behavioral Health Services, Sure Helpline Crisis Center and Imperial County Office of Education’s Early Care and Education Programs.

Free food was distributed to families on a firstcome, first-served basis. The provisions included 150 state-issued emergency food boxes; approximately

200 bags from CNFRC containing green beans, spaghetti, vegetables and other items; approximately 200 sandwich lunches in Styrofoam containers, also from CNFRC, and 15 boxes, which held enough food to feed a family of four, from the Salvation Army.

“Some families, they’re struggling,” CNFRC Director-Coordinator Maria Nava-Froelich said. “We know that they need it.”

Tuesday’s event also concluded with a free drawing for donated items.

Nava-Froelich also announced some of the center’s upcoming events.

From Sept. 9 to 17, Big Smiles mobile dentists will be at the four Calipatria Unified School District schools to provide in-school dental care. Students will not be turned away due to an inability to pay.

Students may still be registered for this service by contacting the CNFRC at (760) 348-2116.

Also, the center will be holding two Walk to School Day events. The first will be at 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 13, from Rademacher Park in Calipatria. The next will be at 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 14 at the former Mike Aleksick Headstart in Niland.

From 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 27, the center will be conducting its second annual Safety and Wellness Fair inside Wirt Auditorium at Calipatria High School.

PHOTO VINCENT OSUNA Informational booths for Sure Helpline Crisis Center, Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program and Center for Family Solutions of Imperial Valley during Calipatria-Niland Family Resource Center’s open house event on Tuesday in Calipatria.

PHOTO VINCENT OSUNA A woman carries an infant girl while visiting at the various resource booths during Calipatria-Niland Family Resource Center’s open house event on Tuesday in Calipatria.

PHOTO VINCENT OSUNA Adriana Buelna (center) performs a health screening for a woman at the Ventanillas de Salud booth during Calipatria-Niland Family Resource Center’s open house event on Tuesday in Calipatria.

PHOTO VINCENT OSUNA America’s Job Center of California was one of many organizations on hand during Calipatria-Niland Family Resource Center’s open house event on Tuesday in Calipatria.

PHOTO VINCENT OSUNA Calipatria-Niland Family Resource Center’s Director-Coordinator Maria Nava-Froelich announces the winning number for a prize drawing during CNFRC’s open house event on Tuesday in Calipatria.