In an effort to support local families, three school districts are joining forces with service groups to establish a resource for those in need during these challenging economic times.

Debbie Norgaard, adult education coordinator for the Liberty Union High School District, is assembling a resource fair to help local families, specifically with limited English speaking abilities, find the help they need to keep their heads above water in the squall of a down economy.

The community resource fair – Resources for Challenging Times – is the first event to be hosted by Far East County Community-Based Collaborative, a group that unites Brentwood, Liberty and Oakley school districts with organizations such as Families Forward, Mercy Housing, and the Village Community Resource Center to help families in need receive aid from local organizations.

“I hope folks will be able to realize that there are plenty of resources here to help them through these challenging times,” Norgaard said. “I hope they will gain the confidence to approach these resources for help without fear. Hopefully, people will become more comfortable seeking out these resources.”

The resource fair takes place on Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Community Education Center, 929 Second St. in Brentwood. For more information, call Norgaard at 925-634-2565, ext. 1073.

Edna Hill Middle School will also be hosting a resource fair next week to help families find the proper support systems to ensure that their children make a successful transition to high school.

Vice Principal Amy Wallace said the focus of the fair is to provide families with resources to make the change seamless, but agencies will also be on hand to provide support to families who might be struggling because of the economy.

“With the state of the economy, there are a lot of families who are in crisis right now,” Wallace said. “Education is not only about academics. We want to help the community network with local agencies and learn about resources that are available to them. This event will be beneficial to anyone new to Brentwood who is looking with a basic orientation to local resources that are available in Brentwood as well as Oakley, Antioch and Pittsburg.”

The Edna Hill Family Resource Night takes place from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14 at 140 Birch St. in Brentwood. Agencies scheduled to attend include Sylvan Learning Center, Police Activities League, and East Bay Works.

For more information, call Wallace at 925-513-6440.