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Annual Block Party Brings Out Community
1009 CHS Block Party 1
Center for Human Services - Oakdale Block Party participants start out at the check in booth before visiting the other booths on Friday afternoon. - photo by Dawn M. Henley/The Leader

 

A full “Block Party” – complete with a closed street – and put on by the Center for Human Services (CHS) - Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center on Oct. 4, hosted 33 vendors and service providers for local families. The third annual event, which was open to the community, took place on Mann Avenue between F and G streets. It provided information about community services, free food, music, giveaways, face painting and more.

“This is an outreach event to help us to talk about and share what we do,” said Tamberly Humble, CHS Oakdale Program Coordinator. “It also helps bring the community together to share what’s offered here.”

She added that some booth sponsors may not have a building in Oakdale but they do offer services in Oakdale. Humble also said that about 500 people attended last year’s event and they expected at least that many again this year, but were hoping for more.

A few of the booths included Community Housing and Shelter Services, which is at CHS Oakdale on Wednesdays; the United Way was present to share about some of its programs; CAPS offered child I.D. kits that included a photo, thumbprints, and DNA hair collection instructions; and Haven Women’s Center was present to share about its services. There was also a “free market” that included books, clothing, and household items.

The Oakdale Lions Club donated the food for the event – 500 hot dogs and the fixings – and cooked it as well, and Don’s Mobile Glass shared its popcorn machine in order to offer freshly-popped bags of popcorn to the attendees.

The Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center provides prevention, education, juvenile justice, counseling and family resource services for youth and families from Oakdale, Riverbank and the surrounding areas. Most services are at no cost to recipients.

For more information about CHS – Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center, call (209) 847-0420 or visit the website www.centerforhumanservices.org.