Jubilee Church in Clarkson will host its third annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, September 28. “This year, the event will be much more than a family fun day,” said Robin Krueger, administrator of Jubilee Church. Family Fun Day will continue its tradition of being a free family event, providing food, raffles, a pie-eating contest, games, and prizes. However, this year, it will also feature a vast array of Monroe County services available to the community.
As food and living expenses continue to rise, the church has received an uptick in calls from community residents seeking assistance. “We are getting so many calls from local residents who are facing financial hardship, needing help with food, transportation, losing their home, and some living in a tent,” Krueger said.
Recognizing this growing need for help led to a partnership between Jubilee Church and Monroe County Legislator Jackie Smith. “Being part of this event is really a continuation of the education programs we have been bringing out to western Monroe County over the last two years,” said Legislator Smith.
Smith has been working towards bringing more services and awareness of the services to the community. Her focus on this began in 2021 when Smith organized meetings with the western Monroe County town supervisors, leaders, police agencies, school leaders, and the county department of human services officials to help local leaders better understand the services that are available to their residents, students, seniors, and veterans. Smith recognized that inaccessibility to county services is a significant issue that some in western Monroe County face.
Legislator Smith first met Pastor Emelio Sebastian from Jubilee Church when they worked together on the Clarkson Veterans Park project and Clarkson Good Neighbor Day. “As brick-and-mortar agencies go away, the community relies more on the church to be knowledgeable on what needs can be met among the community,” Krueger said.
Jubilee Church has been continually active in this role with the Community Hygiene Bank, which they have been running for the past two years, serving more than five hundred residents at the monthly bank. A collection bin will be available at the event for anyone who would like to contribute to the Community Hygiene Bank.
Pastor Emelio Sebastian is passionate about continuing to be a beacon of hope to the community and helping connect those in need to the services that are available to them. At this year’s Family Fun Day, guests will have incredible access to connect with nearly 50 beneficial services available to community residents. Some of the services that will be represented include the Family Resource Mobile Unit by the Department of Human Services offering SNAP, HEAP, Safe Sleep, child support, child care subsidies, emergency and temporary assistance, mental health resources, and addiction resources; Give A Lift; The Monroe County Sherriff’s Department issuing Child IDs; Strong West medical screenings; Monroe County Job Recruitment; Vets Driving Vets; Veterans Outreach; Brockport Fire and Police Department; Willow Domestic Violence; Brockport Central School District; a pet food pantry; insurance and legal services; senior services; free medical screenings, including mammogram; and many more.
Josie McClary, Monroe County Chief Engagement Officer, has collaborated closely with Legislator Smith to increase awareness of services in the rural suburbs and small towns of western Monroe County. “There are gaps in bringing these services to the outlying towns on the westside, and this is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about what services are available. We are eager to get our mobile units out into the community at events such as this,” McClary said.
“This event is a testament to the collaborative spirit that thrives within our community,” Legislator Smith added.
Family Fun Day and the Community Resource Partnership will be held on Saturday, September 28, from noon to 3 p.m. at Jubilee Church, 3565 Lake Road, Clarkson. The event is free and open to all in the community. For more information, call Jubilee Church at 637-8530 or visit http://jubileechristianchurch.org.
