Angela Bakos knew there were dozens of groups, organizations and businesses that provided services to people in need. She also knew each one didn’t necessarily know about all the others or what is available.
She began to realize that disconnect existed while attending meetings as a member of the Augusta Commission’s Task Force on Homelessness.
“Everybody kept talking about needing case managers and case managers are great. And we do need them. But they’re not out in Appling or Harlem or Hephzibah. All of these people are out there, and they want to help,” she said.
In July 2020, she began building lists of resources along with contact information for each entity that could help. She created more than a dozen lists covering different needs including help with addiction, clothing, food, housing, and healthcare and mental health.
“I wanted to help empower the people that are helping, because none of us feels good when somebody comes to us, and they need help, and we don’t have an answer. So, it empowers them. And it helps the people that need help. So, that’s my goal,” said Bakos.
Bakos knew it was time to create a way for all the helpers on her list to meet each other and share information. She organized the Resourced Fair at Julian Smith Casino on June 1.
About 250 people responded to the invitation with 119 scheduled to give presentations during the morning session on what they offered. Bakos likened the format to “speed dating.” Speakers had 90 seconds to give the broad strokes of what they do. That was followed by an afternoon session of networking, sharing more detailed information on their services in one-on-one conversations.
Attendees ranged from large, well know organizations like SafeHomes of Augusta and GAP Ministries, to smaller providers such as Broken Outreach Ministries.
Coordinator Barbara Soderberg said the organization’s name derives from the fact that everyone has a broken part inside of them.
“Some people, they just can’t get past the brokenness of it, the pain and so they go out and they do crazy things, maybe drugs, maybe sex, maybe alcohol, maybe just run away and just stay under a bridge, instead of facing their pain and their everyday lives,” she said.
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She said her group has purchased five houses in south Augusta to bring people in, help them rebuild their lives so they can find a job, pay bills, all the goals to function in society. But she said they believe they can do more and that’s what brought her to the casino.
“We’re not well known and there are some people out there that could actually contribute like maybe clothes or volunteer work or mentorship, social workers or whatever, whoever is here maybe can help us and us the same with them,” said Soderberg.
Bonita Jenkins, special populations coordinator at Augusta Technical College, was in the crowd. She said her role means she needs to be able to connect students with community resources.
“I am here to learn and to network because the more people that I connect with and connect the resources with, I can connect my students with, I can do it in the community if we need it. And so, I am just here for the CSRA,” she said.
More information about Resourced is available on its Facebook page, the lists of resources are also available: https://www.facebook.com/resourcedinfo
Information about Broken Outreach Ministries is available at: https://www.brokenoutreachadvantage.org/
For a list of addiction resources, click here.
For a list of clothing resources, click here.
For a disabled resources, click here.
For assistance with elderly resources, click here.
Employment and adult education resources can be found by clicking here.
For a list of food resources, click here.
Healthcare resources can be found here.
For housing resources, click here.
For a list of mental health resources, click here.
Military resources can be found here.
For a list of technology resources, click here.
For a list of transportation resources, click here.
For tutoring resources, click here.
For assistance with youth resources, click here.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
