Greater Copperas Cove Community Agency Network meets

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

Representatives from agencies and nonprofits in the local area shared about their organizations and exchanged information at the Greater Copperas Cove Community Agency Network meeting last Monday at Grace United Methodist Church.
The meetings, held every two months, bring together groups that serve residents of Coryell and Bell counties such as Refuge Corporation, Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association, Star Group – Veterans Helping Veterans, Cove House, Bring Everyone in the Zone, Jesus Hope and Love Mission, Thanks For the Little Things, Lone Star Legal Aid, Hill Country Community Action Association, Operation Stand Down Central Texas, Senior Center along with Bell County WIC. 
Held in a round table format, the meeting gave time for each group’s representative to introduce themselves and their agency, and briefly state the services they provide to the local area, whether that be housing, health care, veterans’ services, education and more. 
The idea behind the bimonthly meetings is for nonprofits and governmental agencies to network so the others can be aware of each other’s services and the ones to whom they provide assistance. 
The groups’ representatives then shared about the services they provide along with any upcoming events for the community. 
Joann Courtland, director of Operation Stand Down Central Texas, a local nonprofit which helps homeless veterans, shared about the upcoming spring benefit show set for Saturday, March 31 at 2 p.m. in Lea Ledger Auditorium. The All Hands On Deck variety show, coming from Branson, Missouri, will take the stage for a one-time performance. 
“We have 1,200 seats to fill at Lea Ledger Auditorium,” said Courtland. She said tickets are on sale now at Eventbrite.com, with special rates for veterans and military with ID, 
“Jody and his group from All Hands On Deck do this all over the country and we’re hoping this will be our big fundraiser this year.” 
Sgt. Kevin Miller with the Copperas Cove Police Department attended the meeting for the first time.
“This is new to me, but as a patrol officer, a lot of the resources I can use I found out today,” Miller told the group. “We have used Cove House for years, but I’m glad to find out more information I can give to people where we can send them for help.” 
He also shared about the new community-based patrolling program the department started in August, with the city divided into 22 sectors, with each officer being assigned an officer.
Jeri Woods, the community outreach specialist for the Copperas Cove Senior Center and the library, said the Senior Center has recently been offering day trips, and is always looking for ideas for future trips, especially to places and events that are accessible for those with mobility issues. 
Sandra Minor, executive director of Adolescents And Young Adults Drinking & Driving Outreach Center, or AAYAD, introduced herself and talked about an upcoming event open to youth and adults in the local area. 
“We are having our 2018 youth summit, ‘A Better You’, on February 17 at Rivers of Living Waters Church, at 508 N. Gray St. in Killeen, and the event is open to those in seventh grade and up,” Minor said. The event goes from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. Topics focus on self-worth, communication: human behaviors vs. cyberspace, human trafficking, and suicide/homicide in the youth population.  
For more information or to be added to the network’s mailing list, contact Joseph Solomon at Refuge Corporation at 254-547-6753.