The Wright Community Connection – Healing the community with a collective of human & social services that support youth and adults in living well!
Amanda Rink, Editor
Erica Lindaman has been considering creating a community outreach center for years. Lindaman helps to operate the non-profit Gift of Giving. Through her work within the nonprofit and her career as a schoolteacher in Wright County, she noticed gaps within services offered through state and federal outreach.
“When we have about half of our student population receiving free or reduced lunch, that is telling about what our community might need,” Lindaman shared with The Wright County Monitor. The Gift of Giving focuses on providing children with holiday gifts, school supplies, and families with resources for financial or social emergencies. The nonprofit relies on community donations and volunteers to remain successful. “Rather than taking a gently used couch to the dump, community members decide to donate that item to The Gift of Giving and that is how we’re able to make a difference,” Lindaman shared. The nonprofit then distributes the donated items to those who apply for the need or during 'pop-up' events. Either way, the items never come at a charge.
Partnerships between local nonprofits, such as the First Lutheran Food Pantry, are another way local organizations are filling state and federal outreach gaps. According to Food Pantry Director, Missy Loux, “In 2023, First Lutheran Food Pantry served about 1,000 people per month across our four pantry sites, distributing over 6,000 pounds of food bought from the Food Bank of Iowa.” The pantry also sustains itself with its community garden project and community donations. Loux along with food pantry volunteers fight food insecurity in our area daily.
A shared vision between Lindaman and Loux put the wheels in motion and once Chelsy Velasco was brought into the conversation, the trio got to work on the county-wide community center.
Chelsy Velasco is a Bilingual Health Coach and a Community Wellness Advocate, working in partnership with Health Advocate since 2019. Velasco owns and operates CJoy Wellness, where she focuses on obtaining wellness through natural avenues. CJoy Wellness will offer bilingual wellness and lifestyle management coaching, through connecting members of the community looking to increase their access to wellness resources and tools inside the Wright Community Connection space. “The increase in the number of people searching for “alternative” therapies in their quest for relief from chronic pain, disease prevention, and general lifestyle management is astonishing,” Velasco shared with The Wright County Monitor.
The trio of ladies interested in bettering their community through their passions met and took a leap of faith and the Wright Community Connection was born! “We believe that a strong community starts with connection and collaboration. At the WCC we are empowered to embrace change and healing in our community by bringing together a collective of human & social services supporting youth and adults in living well,” shared the group.
The center will host a psychiatrist, psychologists, and other mental health professionals on a monthly rotation. Iowa Legal Aid will have a presence within the center, too. The first Free Legal Aid Clinic will focus on Immigration and will be held on March 15 at 11:00 A.M. The Gift of Giving, The First Lutheran Food Pantry and CJoy Wellness will have a strong presence within the center. The team is most excited about the resources available for the youth in our community.
The Wright Community Connection will have activities for children of all ages and backgrounds. From a rec room, and toddler area, to gardening, and more, The Wright Community Connection will provide entertainment and education to our youth in a fun, welcoming atmosphere.
The team is happy to offer a Young Empowerment/Entrepreneurial Program for the youth of Wright County. Adult mentors will engage children through community-based education, employment readiness, and extra-enrichment activities. Children who are taking part in the retail area will be allowed to sell through the center’s retail space, for example.
When asked what will make The Wright Community Connection stand out against other community resources offered in our area, Lindaman paused, considering her answer carefully. “The diversity will draw the kiddos in. The program diversity, the people, the ideas,” she elaborated. “This is not just for kids in Clarion, either. This is a county-wide community center.”
Join the team on Thursday, February 29, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., as they share their vision for the center. A nonprofit organization, such as The Wright Community Connection, is run on grants and sponsorships. If you are interested in sponsoring an area or volunteering, make sure to stop by for more information.
