Project Connect 2026: Uniting Resources and Residents
A day of service for residents needing support in Charlevoix and Emmet counties
On March 18, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW) will join more than 70 local, nonprofit agencies and businesses at North Central Michigan College from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Project Connect.
“The idea behind this special event is to help individuals and families gain access to the services they need, all under one roof, on one day,” says Dana Lorian, Project Connect Co-chair. “Understanding the often-complicated social services system can be a challenge, and at Project Connect participants will be guided to agencies that can offer assistance in areas such as Education & Employment, Health & Wellness, Housing & Finance, and Kids & Parenting.”
“Project Connect is about meeting families where they are, connecting them with resources, services, and the support they need to stay healthy and thrive,” says Melissa Hahn, Director of Family Health at HDNW. “When we bring these services directly into the community, we remove barriers and create real opportunities for families to succeed.”
HDNW will have a variety of resources available, such as:
• SAFE in Northern Michigan, empowering youth to lead substance-free lives in Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties,
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), a program to support parents, foster families, and non traditional caregivers for children under five years old, with monthly benefits to buy food, nutrition education counseling, breastfeeding support, and immunization services,
• “Parent’s Pit Stop,” a private, welcoming space, provided by the Family Health team, for parents to feed and change their babies, and
• Nurse practitioners who offer a full suite of family planning and reproductive health services.
“Manna Food Project will be in attendance, offering bags of apples, nutrition education materials, and flyers with pantry locations, including partner pantry sites,” says Carrie Klingelsmith, Executive Director of Manna Food Project. “Manna is proud to take part in the 2026 Project Connect.”
Other free services include a hot snack, haircuts, family photos, car seat check-ups, stroke screenings, and much more!
What’s New?
A new feature at this year’s event is the Michigan Secretary of State Mobile Office. Attendees will have access to free services including disability parking placards, voter registration, and no-fee state identification cards for those who qualify.
No pre-registration is required, however, to register for assistance, it is recommended to bring picture ID, Social Security Number, Discharge Papers for Veterans (DD214), proof of income, Medicaid or private insurance information. For more details or to download a brochure, please visit www.ProjectConnect231.com. Volunteers can register at www.ProjectConnect231.com.
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