Thirty non-profit organizations from across the Santa Clarita Valley gathered at College of the Canyons last Tuesday to connect with students, community members, and each other.
This event was the first non-profit community resource fair in COC’s history. It was hosted by the College of the Canyons Center for Civic and Community Engagement alongside the COC Golden Z Club.
“Our hope is that students will learn about our organizations in the community, as well as faculty and staff,” said Patty Robinson, the faculty director of Civic and Community Engagement at COC.
The organizations present ranged from environmentalist groups, such as the Sierra Club, to groups working to fight homelessness, such as Family’s Promise and Bridge to Home.
“Our goal is to ensure that no child remains homeless or becomes homeless,” said Monica Holmes, Program Director of Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley. Family Promise provides resources, such as interim housing, to families struggling with homelessness.
While the fair allows groups like Family Promise to promote volunteer and donation opportunities, it also serves as a way for people in need to connect with these organizations.
“We met some students who are qualified for our program who had no idea we existed,” Monica explained.
The fair not only connected students to the non-profits but also the non-profits to each other.
“I connected today with the food pantry, and that, to some of my families that are low-income, will come in very handy,” said Lety Garcia, the Patient Family Liason for the Michael Hoefflin Foundation. This foundation provides aid to families who have children battling cancer.
For Patty Robinson, the event presents an additional opportunity.
“What I’m hoping is that if faculty are able to connect with some of these organizations,” she explained. “They might think in terms of creating a class project.”
Robinson hopes that by connecting COC faculty to these organizations students may have the opportunity to engage in more hands-on, project-based learning.
“If you’re able to get out and actually work with these groups and maybe even problem solve…you’re getting to be part of that solution.”
Although this fair is the first of its kind at COC, Robinson has hopes of hosting similar events in the future.
