Let’s Connect: Bringing individuals and resources together in Lenoir, Jones and Greene Counties
Joyce Hawkins, BSW
Resource Specialist/Social Worker
One of the ways libraries have evolved over the last few decades is that we are increasingly community centers that individuals rely on to make connections with various essential programs and resources. The Let’s Connect Program, an exciting new initiative at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library and other Neuse Regional Libraries, is making a difference in the lives of community members by connecting resources and services to those that need it most. Since November 1, 2022 the Let’s Connect program has assisted 123 families, 138 adults and 66 children reach positive outcomes, as measured through follow-ups that are routinely performed with Let’s Connect participants. These participants include adults, children, married couples, and families, as Let’s Connect’s services typically benefit entire households; one such family went from living in a tent outside to finding emergency assistance with housing, furniture, utilities and food thanks to the connections they made through this program.
While some of the community member’s interactions with the Let’s Connect Program can be solved with a simple referral, more than 50% of the services provided through the Let’s Connect program require more intensive work and have multiple needs. Housing, employment and food continue to be major needs within the communities that I serve. Many of our older members and our rural community members experience food insecurities the most and are in need of connections to local food banks, food pantries, mobile markets and senior services.
The Let’s Connect Program has also helped our public library strengthen partnerships with local agencies such as Health Departments, Police Departments, the Council on Aging, and the Community Health Center. We have also established new connections with other agencies such as Greene Lamp Community Services Block Grant, a work program that assists with employment, as well as Building Futures of ENC Inc. and Acts Angels INC., two organizations that assist with furniture and other household items. Referrals to the Lenoir Re-entry Program provide support to individuals newly released from incarceration by assisting individuals with job training, recovery programs and housing. These partnerships and referrals have greatly contributed to the success of the Let’s Connect Program.
Referrals to the Let’s Connect Program come from other agencies and organizations, family and friends, local churches, community colleges, local city officials and connections made at various community outreach events. The Let’s Connect Program has made numerous contacts and connections with multiple agencies and these collaborations will result in a a Resource Guide that will include Lenoir, Jones and Greene Counties. The Resource Guide will be available on the Neuse Regional Libraries website and will be accessible to other agencies within the community. Let’s Connect also helps introduce local residents to the the Library’s Literacy Without Barriers one-on one adult literacy tutoring program that assists with reading, writing, math, ESL learning, and computer skills.. The resources and information available through the Let’s Connect program at Neuse Regional Libraries provide a very valuable and much needed service to the members of the community. Our Library strives to continue to strengthen existing connections to provide services that meet the needs of the vulnerable members of our communities.
To learn more contact Joyce Hawkins at jhawkins@neuselibrary.org or call the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library at 252-527-7066.
Neuse News is a locally-owned small business startup in downtown Kinston. Our goal is to provide free, hyper-local news to Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. The kind of news our grandparents read in a format fit for today's times.
We provide this by having supportive advertisers and we encourage you to click on their ads, shop with them, and eat with them. Every bit of financial support is important to help us sustain free, hyper-local news.
Please consider supporting Neuse News with as little as $5 one-time or via a monthly option. Every little bit helps us, help you.
