Annual resource fair Project Connect to be held Friday in Centreville

Project Connect, the annual resource fair aimed at assisting low-income families, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness in St. Joseph County, will take place Friday, October 3, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the fairground’s Henningsen Show Arena in Centreville.

Health screenings this year will include stroke screens, blood glucose, and blood pressure. Sturgis Walgreens Pharmacy will administer free flu shots. Immunizations will also be available through the BHSJ Community Health Agency. There will also be opportunities to schedule for mammograms through Beacon Three Rivers Health Hospital, and sign up for a Vision of Hope event, if eligible. The South Michigan Food Bank, along with Community Action, will provide food boxes and a fresh food distribution to attendees, according to a press release from St. Joseph County Human Services Commission. 

“Often, people aren’t aware of resources that are available to them when they need them or how to access them. At Project Connect, community members learn about available services and are immediately connected to providers. Some will also come to learn about services they potentially may need as they age.” said St. Joseph County Human Services Collaborative Coordinator and Event Chair Laura Brott. 

Additional offerings include a free haircut and bagged lunch for participants. 

This marks the 20th annual Project Connect where each year participating agencies look forward to not only providing support but building new relationships, and engaging with individuals they may not otherwise have the chance to meet. 

According to Brott, approximately 250 households were served at the 2024 Project Connect. 

“Many households continue to struggle and we anticipate just as many households or more participating this year,” she said. 

St. Joseph County Project Connect will be held in conjunction with a Veteran Stand Down. Tiyanna Payne of the Battle Creek VA said, “Stand Downs provide services to Veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits, counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services such as housing, employment, and substance abuse treatment.” 

Stand Downs are typically one- to three-day events providing supplies and services to homeless Veterans, such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings and VA Social Security benefits counseling, according to the US Department of Labor.

Project Connect is a collaboration among the St. Joseph County Human Services Commission and its task forces, led by the Housing Task Force, with the support of event sponsors and the many agencies and organizations providing free services on site. Financial and in-kind contributions from these additional businesses make the event possible: Sturgis Area Community Foundation, the Battle Creek VA, Sturgis Bank and Trust, Pivotal, Black Gold Potato Farm, and Yoder’s Country Market in Centreville.

Stacy Linihan, CEO of Covered Bridge Healthcare and current chair of the St Joseph County Human Services Commission added, “Project Connect is a wonderful opportunity to connect with multiple agencies in one location, all dedicated to helping meet the diverse needs of individuals and families in our community. Whether you’re seeking housing assistance, healthcare resources, employment support, or other vital services, Project Connect brings these resources together to make access easier and more efficient.”