Sometimes finding help is less about whether a program exists and more about knowing whom to ask.

That is the idea behind a free gathering at The Crossroads Mall in Portage this Saturday.

On November 7, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Community Resources Expo will bring representatives from nearly 40 organizations together in one familiar location.

The event is organized by the City of Portage Human Services Board in partnership with The Crossroads.

Visitors can enter through the mall's upper-level food court at 6650 South Westnedge Avenue.

Admission is free, and no special reason is required to stop by.

Some visitors may be looking for help with groceries, housing, transportation, finances or healthcare.

Others may want information about employment programs, family services or legal resources.

Still others may simply be curious about volunteer opportunities and the organizations working quietly across our community.

Having so many services in one place can make a complicated search feel much more manageable.

Instead of calling one office after another, visitors can ask questions face-to-face and find out where to begin.

That human connection matters, especially when someone is navigating an unfamiliar situation.

The expo also includes ways to give back.

Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food donations for Twelve Baskets Food Pantry.

Other planned activities include vision testing, collection of unused eyeglasses and blood-drive registration.

Portage Public Safety representatives will participate, including a fire extinguisher training demonstration.

And there is a particularly friendly guest expected to draw attention.

Flora, the Portage Public Safety therapy dog, is scheduled to make an appearance.

She may well become the unofficial star of the afternoon.

But the heart of the event is the network of people who help neighbors solve everyday problems.

A strong community isn't measured only by new buildings and busy shopping centers; it's also measured by how easily residents can find support.

Many of the participating organizations do important work without much publicity.

The expo offers a chance to learn what they provide, whom they serve and how residents can connect with them.

Even if you don't need assistance today, you might discover information that could help a friend or family member tomorrow.

That's a good reason to spend part of a Saturday at the mall.

Remember the essentials: Saturday, November 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., upper-level food court entrance at The Crossroads in Portage.

Bring a food donation if you can, bring your questions and perhaps bring a neighbor.

Sometimes one useful conversation can make a bigger difference than we realize.