By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A nonprofit that serves the Coronado Haskell neighborhood on the city’s west side will host an event this weekend that aims to support grandparents raising their grandchildren by connected them with needed services and supplies.
The year’s first Love Rockford event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jeremiah Development, 132 N. Church St.
The event will link people with health care and social services and provide giveaways of school supplies, food boxes, raffle prizes, as well as free haircuts, books and other helpful items.
“When the magic happens is when somebody comes in the door because they know that they want to talk to someone from Lifescape and they see three other agencies that they didn’t know existed that can help with other things that they’ve had problems with,” said Sue Kanthak, executive director of Jeremiah Development.
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Jeremiah Development previously held one large Love Rockford event annually. This year it’s breaking them down into four separate quarterly events focused on different areas of need: grandparents raising grandkids, adult health (June 3), veterans’ health (Sept. 10) and children’s health (Dec. 3).
“The huge Love Rockfords were wonderful, but it was four hours of help once a year,” Kanthak said. “If we can break it down and have it more often, people will get connected with services more often.”
Masks will be required to go indoors at the event.
“We’ve got grandparents who are seniors, we’ve got grandchildren who are under 5, so we’re not going to take any chances with those high-risk groups,” Kanthak said.
Fast facts | Love Rockford
What: Jeremiah Development hosts a day with giveaways of food boxes, school supplies, free haircuts, books, and health care providers and social service agencies will be on site.
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5
Where: Jeremiah Development, 132 N. Church St., Rockford
Questions: 815-627-0001
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.