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Date: 8/3/2021
CHICOPEE – The Chicopee Center Resource Fair was originally scheduled for July 17. Due to inclement weather, the fair had to be cancelled. It will now take place on Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lucy Wisniowski Park on School Street.
According to Sgt. Thomas Gazda of the Chicopee Police Department, there will be between 20 to 25 vendors at the fair who aim to help lower-income and elderly citizens with outreach support. Gazda said that there will be home healthcare agencies in attendance, the Westover Job Corporation, Behavioral Health Network and more.
Vendors will offer a variety of support and resources for anti-poverty programs such as fuel and nutrition assistance, child care services, drug addiction programs, mental health assistance and healthcare.
Gazda said that the fair is a great opportunity for residents to find out what resources are available to them through the state and local non-profits. He also said that the Chicopee Police Department’s C3 Unit will be in attendance.
“For us, as a Police Department, it’s trying to build relationships with residents down here in Chicopee Center. It’s just another reason for people to get out of the house, come over and talk to us and get to know us,” said Gazda.
This will be the second Chicopee Center Resource Fair. The first was hosted back in Oct. 2020 and was much smaller due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“The city at that time only allowed us to have eight vendors. We had to have sanitizing supplies, masks and so we were really limited on what we could do. We couldn’t really have any live music, we couldn’t be handing out food, so it was a very limited resource fair last time. This time we have a lot more vendors and a lot more activities for kids set up,” said Gazda.
The resource fair will have raffles of gift cards to local businesses in Chicopee Center, free ice cream, hot dogs, live music and toys and activities for kids.
Those interested in learning more about the upcoming Chicopee Center Resource Fair are encouraged to visit the Chicopee Police Department’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ChicopeePoliceDepartment or https://www.chicopeema.gov/ website.