Just Call Granny Ministry, a non-profit group that supports families in the area, recently was among those featured in a Summer Resource Fair that was held at New College Institute (NCI), along with many of the area’s community resource groups.
Other agencies, including the United Way, which was promoting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, which was showing off a corn snake ahead of the Reptile Fest on April 19 – 20, and the Piedmont Autism Action Group.
Representatives from the Tackfully Teamed Riding Academy, Fieldale Pool and others offered families a list of ways to get youngsters out of the house for the summer.
Just Call Granny organized the event in hopes of raising awareness of the area’s many resources, according to Robin Humlan, a volunteer.
“In my heart, I feel that people are getting together for positive action, and they are looking for solutions for their community,” Humlan said, and distributed food to those who stopped by her booth.
Each organization offered informational pamphlets, and representatives who provided information about the services offered.
“I never knew how many organizations were already established and ready” to help, said Humlan, who expressed her wish to connect families with resources that can provide support.
The fest also won the support of Ben Gravely, vice chairman of the Henry County School Board.
“During the summertime, there are activities that go on, we’d love to get the kids involved in activities other than sitting at home in front of a computer or game, to get them more active,” said Gravely.
In the case of Just Call Granny program, which has been working to get the word out that it supports gran families or other alternative families, Gravely said that throughout his career in education, he has witnessed many examples of children who live with alternative family members.
“They’re raising their grandchild (because) mom, dad, for whatever reason chose to make poor decisions and are no longer in the household,” Gravely said.
The Just Call Granny group presented information to city officials at the March 26 Martinsville City Council meeting. The agency also hosts monthly Conversations and Coffee events at NCI, and presents a variety of topics such as children’s mental health, autism awareness, and mentorship programs.
Those events are held from 1 to 2 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. The group’s next event will be held on May 13 and feature the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition. A translator is on hand to ensure that Spanish speakers get fair access to the information being covered at each session. The organization also provides brochures and flyers in English and Spanish.
The program is available to help families of any type and can help to connect families to resources needed. Speak to a trained volunteer by calling (276) 734-3331.
