More than 25 agencies offering social services, including assisted housing, health care, child care, mental health, and job placement, will be at the Hope Chest in St. Ignace for the third annual Community Care Connections Friday, August 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donated backpacks, school supplies, and free haircuts provided on site from local salons will also be available for children as a part of the Project Backpack program by the Mackinac County Child Protection Roundtable.

Event coordinator Ronda Engle said the goal of the event is to provide a wide range of services all under one roof, without the usual “shopping around” required. More than 180 people attended last year.

“For people who are looking for resources in Mackinac County, we try to fill all of the gaps and touch everyone's needs,” she said, adding that most of the agencies in the county will have booths at the event. “We'll have a lot of information about where people can access services.”

Agencies attending the event include CLM MSHDA Rental Assistance, Community Health Access Coalition (applications for medical assistance), Community Home Medical, C-L-M Community Action Agency (applications for services, housing), Diane Peppler Resource Center (domestic violence), Early-ON, Goodwill Industries, Great Start, Hiawatha Behavioral Health, H.O.M.E (housing assistance), Legacy House (homeless shelter for women), LMAS Health Department, Mackinac County Department of Human Services (applications for assistance, information about benefits), Mackinac Straits Health System, MichiganWorks! (job search and resume preparation), Mackinac County MSU Extension Office (information on how to stretch food money), Safe Haven-Tri County (emergency shelter), Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Health and Human Services, St. Ignace Area Hope (Food Pantry and Hope Chest), St. Ignace Public Library, St. Ignace Recreation Department, Strong Families Safe Children, Veterans Services (enrollment information), and USDA Rural Development.

The event is sponsored by the Mackinac County Child Protection Roundtable, St. Ignace Area Hope, and local donations from members of the community.