FOLEY — The Sea Glass Initiative officially launched its new Community Resource Hub Initiative on May 21 at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, marking the beginning of a countywide effort to connect underserved residents with resources before they face homelessness, addiction or mental health crises.

The launch event introduced community members, churches and local partners to the initiative, which is designed to bring support services directly into neighborhoods across Baldwin County.

According to Executive Director Michelle Hillman, the hubs were created to provide earlier intervention and stronger community connections for individuals and families in need.

"We see people every day who are struggling quietly long before a crisis happens," Hillman said. "The Community Resource Hubs are about being present, building trust and making resources more accessible before someone reaches a breaking point."

The hubs feature information and tools designed to connect residents with local assistance programs and emergency

resources. Hillman said each location will include important phone numbers for suicide prevention, substance abuse assistance and homelessness services.

The hubs also include QR codes linking directly to the Sea Glass Initiative website, where residents can access information about hot meals, showers, food pantries and other community resources.

"If they are unhoused, they can scan that and go straight to resources," Hillman said. "They can find where to get a hot meal, where to get a shower, where to find a food pantry or contact us directly for services."

In addition to resource information, the hubs include a prayer request box where community members can leave requests for support and encouragement.

"We will come and pick them up and pray over them for the community," Hillman said.

The initiative also serves as a direct distribution point for donated items. Hillman said the Sea Glass Initiative frequently receives donations from community partners and wanted a more effective way to place those items directly into neighborhoods where they are needed most.

Future hubs will also include a protected community events area where Sea Glass Initiative and partner organizations can post information about upcoming outreach events and available services.

"If we're coming to the community to serve and we have other resources coming, we can put that in the events area," Hillman said. "That community will know there's an event happening and what's going to happen."

The Foley hub became the first of six planned resource hubs that Sea Glass Initiative plans to place strategically throughout Baldwin County. Hillman said the second location will be established in the Mills community, while additional locations are still under consideration.

"This is the first of six that we will strategically place throughout the county," Hillman said. "We are super proud." 

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.