'This is a great way to support the community': High turnout for 2nd annual LINKS Resource Fair

The second annual LINKS Resource Fair was held on sunny June 27 at Wonderland Park in Wasilla, once again celebrating service to the Mat-Su community with an even bigger turnout than last year.

Aaron Wright, Executive Director of the LINKS Resource Center, said that turnout from the community and the nonprofits exceeded last year, with over 60 community non-profits represented at the fair, nearly doubling the size of last year’s fair.

“We had over 68 nonprofit organizations sign up this year, over the 40 we had last year, so we gained a lot of nonprofit organizations. We’ve had well over 250 people come through the gates,” said Wright.

He noted the reason they held the resource fair last year was to celebrate LINK’s 30th anniversary, adding that there were no plans to host it again and only when others called to sign up did he and others decide to try it again this year.

“Last year, one of the motivations (for the Resource fair) was that we wanted to celebrate 30 years of service in the community as a resource center. What’s kept it going this year is the excitement from the nonprofit organizations,” he says, saying that his office was flooded with calls and emails from not only the nonprofits, but from community members as well, expressing gratitude and appreciation for the support.

“People were calling us this year asking to sign up before we’d decided to do this again. And now we plan on doing this every year.”

He said several organizations have already voiced a desire to return next year.

“This is a great way to show support for the community.”

LINKS Resource Center works to serve 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.

Some of the vendors on hand included Set Free Alaska, Four A’s, Blood and Fire Ministries, Stone Soup Group, representatives from the VA, and Providence Imaging Center 3D Mammography Mobile Unit.

Last year, Mrs. Alaska, Chelsea Burke, was in attendance, speaking with all of the vendors and representatives while also taking photos with attendees. This year, she traded her tiara to represent the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education, on which she also serves as it is a cause she is passionate about.

To keep the positive vibe, attendees could partake in food trucks from Triple A’s Soul Food, Alaska Gourmet Hot Dogs, and Gourmet Ice Cream Bars, outdoor games, including a dunk booth, and opportunities to win various prizes that included gift baskets and gift certificates. Of high interest and fun was the dunk tank sponsored by the Special Olympics, often manned by the Palmer Police Department.

“This is a great turnout, and a wonderful thing for the community,” said PPD Officer Shayne in between children successfully dunking him in the booth. “We couldn’t have asked for a better day to be doing this.” The Palmer Police Department partners with Special Olympics, most recently participating win a dunk tank for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run held back in June.

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