Network Nights Will Connect OC Families to Low-Cost Health Resources
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The Orange Healthy Community Action Team (HCAT) and the Orange County Office on Youth (OOY) will host the first of two family network nights Monday, Sept. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gordon-Barbour Elementary School.
OOY Grant Program Manager Robyn Chapman shared that the purpose of the family network nights is to connect Orange County families with accessible community health options they may not be aware of. Both events will feature free health resources and blood pressure checks, plus door prizes and dinner.
The family network nights will also be an opportunity to chat with representatives of local organizations about their program offerings. Participating organizations will include: Orange County Free Clinic, Living Water Community Clinic, United Healthcare, All Blessings Flow, Love Outreach Food Pantry, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Darnell’s Garden Patch, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Orange County 4-H, Orange County Parks and Rec, Virginia Department of Health, Orange County Health Department, and the Orange County Department of Social Services.
Chapman explained that the family network nights are part of HCAT’s overall mission to break barriers to healthy childhoods through community collaboration.
“We're trying to have an impact at the youth level and we know that if we reach out to the parents and can get them on board, then it will trickle down to the kids as well,” she said.
In addition to the upcoming family network nights, Orange HCAT offers programs throughout the year to help set Orange County youth on the path toward a healthy lifestyle. Over the past year, HCAT led healthy eating programs at area childcare facilities, took kids inner tube floating on the Robinson River and hosted story walks at Veteran’s Park.
With inflation, the pandemic and other factors putting extra financial pressure on families in recent years, Chapman said it’s also more important than ever to connect community members to low-cost resources.
“Because the economy is where it is, anything that can be free or less expensive is going to be a big need right now,” she shared.
According to OOY Director Alisha Vines, many of those needs in the community can be met with local resources, as long as people know how to access them.
“Communication can be hard,” she said. “We used to be able to send things home through the schools. We're not allowed to do that anymore since COVID, so our communication avenues have been kind of cut. We’re hoping this event will be one of those things that helps bring some of that back, and then people will know where to turn.”
Gordon-Barbour Elementary School is located at 500 W. Baker St. in Gordonsville. For those who are unable to attend or who live in the eastern part of the county, a second family network night will take place Monday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Locust Grove Middle School, located at 6368 Flat Run Rd. in Locust Grove. Both events are free to attend and no RSVP is required. For more information, call the Orange County Office on Youth at (540) 672-5484.