The Rural Outreach Center’s mission is to break the cycle of rural poverty by accompanying people toward self-sufficiency. They assist, empower and elevate Participants through a two-generational approach. Their service area – what they call ROC County – covers southern Erie, Wyoming, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany counties, an area that has approximately 45,000 people living in poverty. This area has limited mental health services, limited to no public transportation, decentralized public services, and a lack of opportunities for assistance.
On Saturday, Dec. 14 from noon to 3 p.m., The Rural Outreach Center will be holding its Kids ROC Christmas Market. ROC children are invited to attend this holiday party where they can trade in ROC Bucks for gifts for their families. Throughout the year, Kids ROC Participants earn ROC Bucks by spreading kindness, attending ROC experiences, doing good deeds and working toward their goals. This experience provides children with a chance to spread holiday cheer and share their hard work with those they love. Volunteers help provide all the wrapping and trimmings and kids can create Christmas crafts, take a photo with Santa and celebrate the holidays with their peers.
Throughout the year, The ROC collects donations of items that can be used to stock the Christmas Market. Things such as cozy socks, scarves, mugs, coffee, picture frames, self-care items, journals, cooking utensils/supplies, small toys, fidgets, etc. are just some of the things that have been available in the past. This year The ROC received over $2,500 in gift donations for the Kids ROC Holiday Market.
Located at 730 Olean Road in East Aurora, The ROC’s mission is to assist, empower and elevate the impoverished rural populations in southern Erie County and surrounding areas. The organization’s staff and volunteers serve with compassion, empathy and respect for all people. For children, the ROC’s goal is to break the cycle of multi-generational poverty by providing counseling, play therapy, educational opportunities and programs. For more information on the good work being done every day by The Rural Outreach Center, please visit http://theroc.co or call (716) 240-2220. You can also follow the organization on Facebook for frequent updates.
