Community Resource Fair for Seniors
Bringing together 23+ organizations and 200+ seniors in a single-day event connecting Union County residents with essential resources.
About the Client
Union County seniors face gaps in access to food, health care, legal support, transportation, and social connections. Many residents, especially in Plainfield, Linden, and Rahway, experience barriers tied to language, mobility, and income. Public agencies and nonprofits offer services, yet seniors often struggle to navigate them across fragmented systems. Giddings Consulting Group was engaged to design and deliver a community-centered intervention that brought together resources, partners, and seniors in a single accessible space.
The Challenge
The goal was direct: create a single-day experience with real value and lasting connection.
Key challenges:
- Coordinating public, nonprofit, and community partners
- Designing an event grounded in lived community needs
- Ensuring accessibility across language, transportation, and mobility
- Delivering measurable outcomes within a short planning window
Our Strategy
Beginning on May 20, 2024, we led the project from concept through execution in just ten weeks, delivering the event on July 29, 2024. Our approach used a structured planning and partnership model anchored in a Business Model Canvas approach.
Blueprinting the Experience
Defined the value proposition for seniors, mapped partners, resources, and costs, and designed event flow to reduce confusion and fatigue.
Collaboration and Partnerships
Built cross-sector collaboration with NJ Assemblymember Linda Carter, Urban League of Union County, United Way of Greater Union County, and City of Plainfield. Coordinated 23+ organizations and Girl Scout volunteer leadership.
Community-Centered Outreach
Conducted multilingual outreach in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. Leveraged churches, senior centers, community organizations, and local media to reach seniors most likely to benefit.
Operational Execution
Managed vendor coordination, volunteer logistics, and transportation planning. Integrated wellness workshops, recreation, food distribution from Urban Agriculture Cooperative, and social connection into a single welcoming experience.
Key Deliverables
A comprehensive event designed to maximize impact within a compressed timeline.
Event Blueprint
Business Model Canvas approach for full event planning and partner alignment
Partner Coordination
Managed 23+ organizations, volunteers, and cross-sector stakeholders
Multilingual Outreach
English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole communications and promotions
Day-of Execution
Full event management at Plainfield Performing Arts Center
Results & Impact
The Community Resource Fair for Seniors exceeded expectations.
200+
Seniors attended and accessed services
2,000
Pounds of fresh produce distributed
23+
Organizations tabled and conducted outreach
20+
Volunteers supported operations
The model is replicable. The approach scales. The impact is real.
Giddings Consulting Group
Key Insights
This case reflects our ability to translate strategy into action. The Community Resource Fair demonstrates how structured planning, partnership building, and community-centered design produce tangible outcomes in a compressed timeframe.
Clear frameworks accelerate collaboration and produce faster results across diverse partners.
Cross-sector partnerships expand reach and trust.
Community events deliver greater value when paired with intentional design.
Short-term interventions build long-term relationships.