Twin Lakes Community Online Directory Renewed to Serve Two Counties
February 2004

Community Web Site Supported by South Shore Foundation Margaret Hall (seated), a trustee of the South Shore Foundation, is shown with Kathy Weaver, president of the United Community Resource Council, as they display the online directory of human service agencies, support groups, and volunteer organizations. Created in 2001, the Web site is at www.twinlakescommunity.org. It serves the public and professionals in both Baxter and Marion Counties.

South Shore Foundation has provided a $2,500 second grant for the area’s online human services directory for Baxter and Marion Counties. To see the directory containing about 200 groups and agencies, go to www.twinlakescommunity.org. The United Community Resource Council of Baxter County is the grant recipient.

Kathy Weaver, president of the UCRC, said the funding will allow the council to keep the Web site active and to accept updates on listings. The organizations are divided into more than 20 categories, such as child/youth abuse, elderly care, employment and training, food/clothing, handicap/special needs, health, housing/shelter, income support, legal assistance, mental health, spiritual support, substance abuse, and others. Or, a group can be found alphabetically by name.

Mrs. Weaver said she and representatives of the 15 sponsoring organizations were pleased to receive the latest South Shore Foundation grant. “This Web site brings together, in a single location, information about the various area, regional, state, and national services available to residents of north central Arkansas,” she said. The agencies and organizations themselves provide the contact information and descriptions of their services. She said there is no cost for participating organizations to be listed.

The UCRC directory at www.twinlakescommunity.org is currently seeking corporate and individual sponsors to assure that the online directory will be available in the future, she said. The online directory was originally funded in 2001 by the TEA Coalition and the South Shore Foundation.

The Web site is a tool not only for individuals seeking the help of agencies and human services groups, but also for professional counselors, ministers, teachers, and agency employees, so they can learn which services other agencies and groups offer. “Sometimes it is difficult to know precisely what resources and programs are available to help people needing assistance,” said Jackie Edmonds, Web Committee chairperson for the UCRC.

Current member organizations of the UCRC are Advocates for the Elderly, American Red Cross, ASUMH Adult Education, Arkansas People First, Arkansas Workforce Centers, Baxter County Juvenile Services, Department of Human Services, Embracing Diversity, Mountain Home Food Basket, Open Arms Learning Center/Noah’s Ark Pre-School, OUR Kids, Ozark Counseling Services, Serenity, SPARKS, and Twin Lakes Literacy Council.

For more information about the UCRC online directory, call Kathy Weaver, president, at 425-4085. Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing (BJM) designed and built the site in 2001. For more information about sponsorship of the Web site, call BJM at 425-8064. For additional information about the South Shore Foundation, the charitable foundation of the Northern Arkansas Telephone Company at Flippin, call 1-800-775-6682.