FARMINGTON — Programs addressing the needs of the unemployed, homeless and victims of sexual assault, as well as those without food or heat, were explained as the second Caravan of Caring traveled Tuesday to six area programs supported by the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area.

Community members and about twenty representatives from various organizations and agencies traveled to United Way community partners in Farmington and Wilton to learn more about the work done by each agency. 

Agencies visited included the Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Services (formerly SAVES), the Care and Share Food Closet, Community Dental, the Wilton CareerCenter, the Healthy Community Coalition and the Western Maine Homeless Outreach Shelter, preparing to open soon at Living Waters Church.

Approximately 600-700 people visit the WiltonCareer Center each month to seek help finding employment, Patty Ladd, Western Maine Community Action CareerCenter manager told those at the gathering.

The CareerCenter houses four programs, including WMCA, the Bureau of Employment, Vocational Rehabilitation and the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation, she said.

The local WMCA organization was started 48 years ago in Strong to generate independence and help mitigate poverty, Fen Fowler, WMCA executive director, said while welcoming participants in the Caravan of Caring to the Wilton CareerCenter. It is one of ten community actions within the state, he added.

Along with employment services, WMCA provides services ranging from housing to energy to nutrition and education, he said. Two new statewide programs include Keeping Seniors Home, a program to help seniors remain independent, and Navigators, an effort to help people understand affordable health care, beginning on Oct. 1.

“There are jobs out there,” Ladd told the gathering. “Both Barclays and Jardens in Wilton are expanding.”

They encourage people to not “get too discouraged,” about their job hunts, she said.

“You may have to travel today to get a job,” she said.

The WMCA services help job seekers and also works with employers, providing resources and workshops to help them find the right employees.

For Cianbro, hiring a new employee can cost the company more than $5,000, between interviews, background and medical checks, training and training time before the new employee is up to speed, Todd Gilley of Cianbro said by phone after the caravan left.

Gilley sought Ladd’s help to find five licensed electricians by Monday.

They have to be ready to go, he said.

“One thing we’ve found,” Ladd said, “we can’t do it all alone.”

Making connections with other agencies, nonprofits and businesses provides referrals to help people.

“The United Way is a big part of our lives,” she added.

Collaboration with other local agencies also helps SAPARS  continue their work without overlapping services, Nick Citriglia, the Farmington site coordinator said.

Formerly SAVES, the agency combined with counterparts in Oxford and Androscoggin Counties in 2011 to become SAPARS.

“The name may have changed but it’s the same agency, giving the same services,” he said.

The agency responds to victims of sexual assault and supports both the victims and their families, providing a 24/7 helpline and educational programs in county schools.

A 40-hour volunteer training prepares individuals with the communication skills to take calls and be a contact person in the community.

Citriglia would like to have more volunteers from the Rangeley, Phillips, Strong and Eustis areas. There is little support available north of Farmington, other than from the schools, he said.

SAPARS works with youth of all ages, from kindergarten through college. A school-based advocate, Kristen Plummer, travels to schools throughout the county, from Rangeley to Jay, he said.

He hopes the work will result in less violence and more reporting of incidents.

RSU 9 Superintendent Tom Ward, a caravan participant, told the group that reporting goes up when the awareness level is raised, and the schools have a contact person.

The United Way funding helps support the school-based program, Lisa Laflin, executive director said.

abryant@sunjournal.com