FOLEY — The Sea Glass Initiative hosted a community resource fair on Thursday, Sept. 18, at Foley United Methodist Church, bringing dozens of agencies under one roof to serve Baldwin County residents.

Executive Director Michelle Hillman said the event had a dual purpose: connecting residents with resources and strengthening collaboration among agencies.

"We work with the unhoused community, and it's very hard for them to connect to other needed services," Hillman said. "A lot of our residents in Baldwin County don't know what resources are available to them, so we wanted to bring as many resources as we can in one location."

More than 40 organizations participated, offering everything from housing and health care support to senior services, domestic violence shelters and hot meals. Hillman added that transportation remains a major barrier, which is why Sea Glass provided rides for attendees who otherwise could not get there.

Catholic Social Services was among the agencies present, sharing information about its emergency food, rent and utility assistance programs. Representative Charsy Anderson said being at events like the resource fair not only connects them directly with residents but also strengthens ties among providers.

"We love being a part of these kinds of events because it helps us stay connected as other agencies throughout the community," Anderson said. "It's important that we are present so that the people in the community can know about what resources are available."

Hillman said turnout was strong and that she was encouraged by the number of new individuals who walked in within the first half-hour. She added that the initiative is planning to continue this model with another resource fair scheduled for Oct. 2 at Prodisee Pantry in Spanish Fort. Organizers hope these regular events will not only meet urgent needs but also build a network of care that residents can count on throughout Baldwin County. 

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.