First Annual "Resource Day" to Bring Together Nearly 75 Local Organizations

Washington County residents are invited to attend a new event designed to connect individuals and families with local organizations offering vital services, support, and information.

The first annual “Washington County Resource Day” will be held on Saturday, August 23rd, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Randy Johnson Fieldhouse at Salem High School. The event is free to attend and open to the public. Attendees can expect a wide variety of booths, giveaways, and activities, including door prizes, a bounce house, and a mobile food pantry.

The Resource Day is a collaborative effort between CASA of Washington County, The Warming Station, and Ascension St. Vincent Salem, with each organization bringing its own experience and community connections to the table.

“Between CASA and the Warming Station, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in families and individuals seeking services and support,” said Amber Colwell, one of the event organizers and a representative of CASA. “Washington County actually has far more resources – services, nonprofits, and general assistance – than many people realize.”

The Resource Day aims to make those services more visible and accessible to both residents and local organizations themselves.

“We’ve observed a disconnect,” Colwell explained. “Organizations often don’t know about one another, and sometimes multiple agencies serve the same individual or family without any coordination. This duplication stems from a lack of communication between providers.”

The event will feature booths and representatives from a wide range of service organizations offering help with health, mental health, recovery, veteran support, housing, food access, and more. Ascension St. Vincent will offer health screenings and cash labs, while Dare to Care will provide a mobile food pantry with free groceries for those in need.

The Salem Fire Department will also be on hand with one of their fire engines, giving kids a chance to explore up close while parents learn about safety resources.

“Our primary goal is to connect Washington County residents with the services and supports they need before their situations become crises,” Colwell said. “A secondary goal is to foster stronger connections between organizations, so we can better support one another by understanding what resources exist and making informed referrals when someone comes to us in need.”

Colwell said the idea for the Resource Day had been in development for several years, but planning formally began in October 2024. When CASA reached out to Ascension St. Vincent (who previously hosted a health fair) for guidance, a partnership quickly formed. Together, the organizations expanded the scope to include broader community services.

"Too often, when someone reaches a point of crisis, there are multiple unmet needs beneath the surface,” Colwell added. “By addressing those needs early, we aim to make a lasting impact on issues like homelessness, hunger, health concerns, and addiction, and ultimately, help keep families together.”

Organizers hope the event will become an annual tradition, and are considering the idea of rotating to different towns throughout Washington County to improve accessibility for rural residents.

In the meantime, the public is encouraged to come out on August 23rd and explore the many ways the community is ready to help. From housing assistance and healthcare to food access and mental wellness, the Washington County Resource Day is a chance to learn what’s available before it’s needed.

Below is a current list of vendors for the event.

• Life Springs

• The Healing Place

• THRIVE

• Celebrate Recovery

• Washington County Tobacco Coalition

• Bliss House

• LIFE House

• Safe Haven

• Washington County Food Bank

• Dare to Care Food Distribution

• First Harrison Bank (providing waters with the food)

• The Warming Station

• Forever Changed Ministries

• Southern Indiana Works / Work ONE

• Job Corp

• Indiana Legal Services

• Purdue Extension

• Helping Hands

• CHOICES

• Nurse Family Partnership

• CASA of Washington County

• Hoosier Hills PACT

• Ireland Home Based SErvices

• Home Stretch

• Hoosier Uplands

• Outside the Walls

• Southern Hills Baptist Church / Salvation Army / Angel Tree / Red Cross / Clothed in Christ

• Healthy Families

• WIC

• Blue River Employment Services

• Benchmark Family Services

• Mens Warming Shelter- Bedford

• Domestic Violence Shelter

• Southern Indiana Homeless Coalition

• Washington County YMCA

• Salem Fire Department (with an engine and crew)

• Washington County QSA

• Salem Library

• Girl Scouts

• Boy Scouts

• Meadow View and Salem Crossing

• Congregations with Community

• Blue River Services

• Building Bridges

• Cloud of Witness Ranch (equine therapy with their horses)

• Hometown Waiver Solutions

• Special Olympics

• Southern Indiana Adult Guardianship Services

• Southern Indiana Center for Independence Living Care Services

• Guardian Care

• Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs / Washington County Veteran Services Officer

• Paralyzed Veterans of America

• Recruiters from the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force 

• Ivy Tech - Sellersburg

• First Steps

• Prosser Adult Education

• Washington County Homeschool Co-Op

• Dr Black's Eye Associates

• St Vincent Hospital (cash labs, heel scans, senior center, chaplain)

• Care Source

• MHS

• Anthem Medicaid

• Covering Kids and Families

• Mosier Chiropractic

• Salem Apothecary

• Senior Center / Senior Renewal-Senior Behavioral Health

• Positive Link-Aids / HIV care/services

• Kids Dentistree

• IPMG

• Gentiva

• Southern Indiana Community Health Care

• Living Well home care

• St. Croix Hospice

• Hosparus Health

• Rivercrest Senior Living 

• Franklin Township Trustee (*possibly Monroe Township Trustee as well)

• Hoosier Bounce house