Community Spotlight: Parks Place Community Resource Center

How Parks Place Community Resource Center serves our community

Parks Place Community Resource Center was founded in 1993 by individuals in the community that brought together a group of dedicated teachers, parents, and other community members looking to address the health, education, and human service needs facing families in the Greater Falls area.
Parks Place works closely and partners with more than 60 state and non-profit agencies and organizations to identify gaps in services and strengthen connections in the heart of the Greater Falls area. We then develop resources that meet the needs of our neighbors in an effort to provide them with the tools they need to move their lives in a positive direction. These resources include:

• Housing Concerns (eviction, looking for housing)
• Job Search and Employment Training
• Food Insecurity and 3 Squares Applications
• Mental Health Counseling for Adults and Children
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Support Groups

The organization has also created numerous programs that are designed to help our community:

• The Time for a Change Diaper Bank was founded in 2016 from a Vermont Community Foundation Spark Grant and is a collaborative effort between Building Bright Futures, Youth Services, the Springfield Area Parent Child Center, WNESU, and Parks Place. Housed in the
  Parks Place building, this program provides community members access to free diapers and wipes.
• Parks Place established a virtual meeting and computer lab onsite to help keep our neighbors connected. We have a number of stations that have Zoom and Microsoft Teams in an effort to enable virtual meetings with providers and service agencies for our neighbors without dependable internet. Additionally, the computers can be used for email, printing and job searching as well. We also provide free services such as printing, copying, faxing, and scanning.
• Our annual Back to School Bash is a resource fair designed to bring local families and organizations together in a fun way. The fair gives families information that helps support their children as they return back to school.
• Our recently updated kitchen hosts nutrition programs.
• During the holidays, Parks Place partners with other local organizations for a holiday gift program.
• We partnered with other organizations to start a playgroup that provides a way for children to increase their socialization and build a stronger foundation for entering into school.

To learn more about ways you can volunteer to help support Parks Place Community Resource Center, email director@parksplacevermont.com or call (802) 463-9927. To make a donation, visit parksplacevermont.com.