Trick or treat
ATCAA showcases local resources at Halloween drive-up event
Participants in the Drive-up Trick or Treat and Resource Showcase hosted by the Amador-tuolumne Community Action Agency on Friday were greeted by a festive Halloween atmosphere featuring treats, both healthy and not, as well as information packets from ATCAA and their partnering agencies at 427 N. Highway 49 in Sonora on Friday.
Vehicles driving through the showcase received goodie bags with information packets from agencies including the Center for a Non Violent Community, Tuolumne County Health Department, ICES (Infant Child Enrichment Service) Head Start and the Blue Zone Project, in partnership with Adventist Health. And for the children, there were treats, coloring books, wrist bands, place mats, face masks, chapstick and other assorted goodies.
Cars drove up, rolled down their windows and were greeted by folks in costumes who handed out the goodies. Some chose to walk to each booth in the fair, including Sheila Ling, of Jamestown.
Ling attended the fair with five costumed children and said ATCAA “was amazing” and Head Start “was a wonderful program” which her two oldest children attended. Three of her young children and their friends lined up for goodies handed out by Joe Tobin, director of the ATCAA Food Bank, who was dressed in a dapper Prince Charming costume.
Kristy Moore, ATCAA Communication manager, put the event together as a way to get outdoors and meet the clients. She handed out fliers for a new pilot program offering $50 gift cards with proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.
In addition to the gift cards, Moore said people can get help with rides, scheduling an appointment and even a gas voucher.
There was information on energy assistance, programs for pregnant women, information on suicide prevention, childcare subsidies and resources available for a plethora of health-related issues.
Bob White, director of prevention programs at ATCAA, said folks from the agency and the YES Partnership were able to get into the schools again this week for Red Ribbon Week, an annual drug-abuse prevention campaign, after an 18-month absence due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The YES Partnership is a county-wide coalition that includes ATCAA and other public agencies, nonprofits, businesses and service organizations focused on supporting local youth and families by preventing suicide, substance abuse and child abuse.
White handed out informational pamphlets on vaping at the event on Friday and said there was “renewed enthusiasm for what we do.”
For more information on ATCAA’S services, go to www. atcaa.org or call (209) 5331397.