Partners unite for resource fair

On Saturday, the City of Wasco, in partnership with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, Bakersfield Pace and Kern Sol News, hosted a community resource fair.

Councilmember Gilberto Reyna said, "This is a great opportunity for us to bring much-needed resources to our community with our collaborators. It was very well attended by families who were able to access essential information."

"We do these events because we know there is a need in our community, and we aim to fill that void. I'm happy to work with our partners to achieve this goal."

The Dolores Huerta Foundation distributed food boxes. Juan Pimentel Cabrera is a farmworker and received one. "I live check to check. This helps put food on the table for my family."

Mercedes Marquez said she was grateful. "I'm homeless, and I'm thankful for the help. I'm taking home a box of food. I appreciate them doing all this for the people that need it the most."

Lydia Villa said, "Events like this help people like me who are struggling and having a hard time during these tough economic times."

Gloria Ozuna, a health broker from Bakersfield Pace, was on hand to share the services her organization provides to seniors living in Kern County.

It is an all-inclusive program, caring for seniors 55 and over through their medical plan.

"We offer many services like transportation, meals, rehabilitation and a senior center where they can come and participate in daily activities and socialize with other people their age so they can continue to be active and healthy."

She said the center is the part that keeps the seniors engaged. "We go on trips to the museum, movie theaters, bowling and parks. It's all at no cost to the participants."

The organization has its own geriatric doctors, nurses, and medical staff on site. "We also have a beauty/barber salon for free haircuts."

Event partner Kern Sol News attended to spread their vision of building healthier communities, one story at a time.

They are a Kern County nonprofit youth-led community newsroom focused on advancing health and racial equity by highlighting health disparities that impact vulnerable communities across Kern.

The Dolores Huerta Foundation provided the food boxes and shared their mission of civic engagement, health and safety and education equity.