(File Photo) Amy Peckens and Carol Layner of the Tunnel United Methodist Church in Marietta speak with representatives of the Marietta-Belpre Health Department during the GoPacks’ 2024 Community Resource Fair. Their church has an outreach program and they were at the fair to see what was available in the community to help people.

GoPacks will host its annual Community Resource Fair from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta, according to GoPacks founder and Director Heather Warner.

GoPacks is a non-profit organization that deals with food insecurity by making sure students have access to nutritious food and working with students and their families to increase their resources through partnering with other organizations, according to Warner.

The Community Resource Fair is open to everyone, from both sides of the river, Warner said.

There will be a free farmers market, the second year for such a market, and for the first time, free children’s books. Another new addition is a children’s car seat check and other additions may be coming, she said.

Attendees will go to different booths to learn about resources and they will get a card punched and.once they have the card punched they will be able to get a free bag of produce from the farmer’s market, according to Warner.

Among participating groups at the fair are Memorial Health Systems, the Washington County Family and Children First Council, Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Washington State College of Ohio and the Southeastern Ohio Counseling Center, Marietta City Schools, Marietta/Washington County Public Library, Building Bridges to Careers, and others.

To learn more about GoPacks go to https://gopacks4kids.org/.

The event is sponsored by The Marietta Times.