LINKS celebrates 30 years with Resource Fair

On Friday June 30, the LINKS Resource Center celebrated 30 years of serving families in the Mat-Su Borough with a Resource Fair.

The local non-profit agency has served all of the Mat-Su Borough, with a mission to provide resources, advocacy, and connection to improve lives, serving various populations locally and throughout the state.

Over 30 vendors were on hand, representing resources from Ancora, Banyan, Alaska Alzheimer’s, Blood and Fire Ministries, Stone Soup Group, and the Department of Corrections Re-entry Group, just to name a few.

There were also food trucks, outdoor games, including a dunk booth, and opportunities to win various prizes that included gift baskets and gift certificates.

Mrs. Alaska, Chelsea Burke, was also on hand for the festivities, speaking with all of the vendors and representatives while also taking photos with attendees.

“I’m here supporting the LINKS because we share a similar interest. My platform, Champions for Inclusion, is inspired by my youngest son, who is autistic.” Burke says her main reason for joining the pageant was to bring a bigger voice for people with disabilities.

“I encourage inclusion and how it can really impact their lives.”

Burke commented that she was glad to see such an interest in LINKS and everything they had to offer, and acknowledging that all of the organizations within LINKS touch on so many different populations.

“I think the turnout is wonderful. There are just so many resources here, not just for people with disabilities, and this is a great way for people in the community to learn about them. It’s been great to learn about all of these groups that are right here in our community.”

LINKS works with four different programs for community members in need of support and advocacy:

The Age and Disability Resource Center, which promotes health, well-being, and safety for individuals with disabilities, seniors and vulnerable adults and caregivers, working to help connect people to services and support that foster independence, personal choice and dignity.

The Community Parent Resource Center advocates and trains parents and caregivers with children with disabilities, providing 1-on-1 meetings, as well as group training sessions, to increase parental knowledge, advocacy, and participation in their child’s education, prepare for the Individualized Education Program process, and other special education meetings, and can come with parents to meetings for support and advocacy.

The Veteran Directed Care Program provides works to increase flexibility for receiving home and community‐based services to enable a Veteran to remain in their home and community rather than receive services in a nursing facility.

Finally, the High Utilizer Mat-Su (HUMS) program assists community members with a variety of social needs by reducing barriers to accessing healthcare, behavioral health services, and other services the individual may need. The voluntary program serves those 18 and older that have multiple emergency department visits, helping to get referrals, advocate for appointments, assist with housing, utilities, and basic needs, assist with food stamps, rental assistance, and other relief programs applications.

To learn more about LINKS Resource Center, please visit www.linksprc.org