The L.I.F.E. Resource Center, in conjunction with the Community of Christians Helping Youth (CCHY), hosted the first of four Outreach Community Picnics in Nicholson on Saturday.

The outreach program is funded by the Building Community Resiliency Grant, which was obtained through a joint effort between the Foundation for the Mid South and the American Red Cross, said Pam Cross of the L.I.F.E. Resource Center.

“This is the first of four outreaches. We’re trying to do them close to the FEMA trailer parks and educate people about outreach programs and resources in their area,” Cross said.

Several workshops were held at the picnic, including a First Aid workshop by the Red Cross, and a stress management workshop and a money management workshop both sponsored by the L.I.F.E Resource Center.

Manna Ministries, which is a local non-profit organization that provides food, clothing, medical care and other necessities to needy familiies, was on-hand to provide free medical screenings to picnic participants.

Cross said the picnic also was a way to identify families in need of assistance who could benefit from the services provided by the Resource Center.

“As we identify families, CCHY will help later by providing transporation for those identified to the L.I.F.E. Center for counseling services,” Cross said.

The L.I.F.E. Resource Center, at 210 Mitchell Street in Picayune, was opened by the Child Abuse Education Council in 2002 to “provide education, intervention, and prevention for victims of child abuse, family violence, and at-risk families,” according to a pamphlet from the Resource Center. The center offers children’s classes and parenting classes as well as counseling programs for the whole family.