Have a need and hoping to make a connection with a resource that can help you meet your needs? Offer a social resource to a demographic in need? Are you interested in volunteering or working in social services and making connections with other organizations? If so, then the upcoming Bristow C.A.R.E.S. Fest is the place to be.
Bristow C.A.R.E.S. Fest—a free event—will be held on Sunday, July 28, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Bristow High School’s Chuck West Field House. The field house sits to the southwest of the high school’s main educational building located at 808 North Ash Street and joins its south parking lot along the west side.
Bristow C.A.R.E.S. stands for Community Alliance for Resources, Education, and Support and defines itself as “a coordinated effort to provide comprehensive support to individuals in need”. In other words, it provides the community with the opportunity to connect with social resources. Meanwhile, Bristow C.A.R.E.S. Fest, in a first-ofits- kind local event, will provide the community with the unique opportunity to connect with existing social resources all at a singular time and place.
Similar to a job fair, where hopeful applicants can meet a variety of employers in one setting, Bristow C.A.R.E.S. Fest attendees will be introduced to a variety of services that strive to improve quality of life. For example, CREOKS Health Services, OSU Community Wellness Programs, Creek County TSET Healthy Living Program, The Pines, Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS), Bristow Area Social Services (BSS), and the Bristow Ministerial Alliance reportedly plan to introduce attendees to their services and programs at the event.
Organizations in attendance offer services addressing needs including psychological counseling, substance abuse recovery and drug abuse issues, anger management, domestic and sexual violence, family and relational wellness, spiritual guidance, in-home medication safety, food and financial security, governmental assistance programs, and more.
According to publicly available sources, attendees will not only be able to meet and form connections with service providers but also be able to receive medication lockboxes, Narcan kits, diapers, Fentanyl test strips, and free haircuts. Advocates may be available to direct residents to or help them apply for benefits, locate GED classes and employment assistance opportunities, identify additional needs, barriers, and resources involving transportation, finances, communication, infant care, nutrition, and physical wellbeing.
Members of the Bristow Ministerial Alliance have also participated in planning the C.A.R.E.S. event. Bristow’s Cornerstone Church, known for its own community outreach events and as “the church that prays”, will also be present at the festival, welcoming and directing guests and offering prayer with and for interested attendees.
As for families, plenty of fun is planned for kiddos, too. Hot dogs and haircuts will be available to all event attendees, and inflatable bounce houses will be available for children’s entertainment.
While anyone can seek and receive goods and services from C.A.R.E.S. Fest vendors at any time, visiting each one individually can be time consuming and challenging. Bristow C.A.R.E.S. Fest eliminates some of those time and transportation constraints—all in an effort to improve quality of life for community residents.
Donations of nonperishable foods, diapers, toiletries, hygiene items, and money will be accepted at the event with all proceeds to be transferred to BSS for dissemination. Donations may also be made directly to BSS.
Those unable to attend Bristow C.A.R.E.S. Fest need not worry as Bristow C.A.R.E.S. will continue to assist community residents beyond the event. In fact, aiding the community fulfills its purpose. For more information about Bristow C.A.R.E.S., check out the Facebook page of the same name.