SANDPOINT -- Unifying the service provider community is the mandate behind the upcoming Service Provider Symposium, an all-day program hosted by the Sandpoint Community Resource Center.

Located in the Columbia Bank Community Plaza at Oak Street and Third Avenue, SCRC helps match people in need with organizations that can help. Its automated database includes more than 300 local and state services. Its premier Service Provider Symposium will take place at the Ponderay Events Center on Wednesday, April 13.

Those attending will represent many sectors of the community, including healthcare, law enforcement, business, veterans, seniors, the faith-based community, education and housing. The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, the Idaho Department of Labor, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the East Bonner County Library District, Lake Pend Oreille School District and Head Start will all send representatives to the symposium, according to Becca Orchard, SCRC director.

"We're really trying to unify the service providing community. The resource center touches all these areas of service in our community and we can see how providers are working together or not working together. We can identify some of the gaps," she said.

The symposium is designed to coalesce a diverse group of area organizations serving low-income residents that can benefit from collaboration in specific areas. One of these is transportation to non-local service centers, said Orchard.

"We should at least be able to transport people," she said. "No one organization is going to tackle that, but we need to all get together and become one united voice."

A second critical need is emergency housing.

"We are doing a pitiful job in our community in providing a safety net for people who are really in crisis. Both of these issues are solvable with the right people working together," Orchard said.

At Wednesday's event, participants will have the opportunity to hear presentations as well as brainstorm with others in their service sectors. Mark Tucker of United Way, and Shirley Paulison and Mark Haberman of Community Action Partnership will  speak to the group. After a working lunch, Orchard, Tucker and Keri Stark of United Way will cover three areas of collaboration: funding, training and volunteer management.

Keynote speaker Jeff Conroy of St. Vincent de Paul in Coeur d'Alene will cap off the day speaking about his organization's collaborative program.

In regard to the potential for collaboration in Bonner County, Orchard was cautiously optimistic.

"I do believe that the interest is there, the desire is there, but people are so overwhelmed by getting done what needs to be done, that using energy outside your focus area is a challenge. What is missing is any form of leadership to make it happen." she said.

SCRC aims to change that by forging strong connections with such tools as SPIN, an automated service provider information network, and a self-help directory for people in need.

Right now, SCRC could use some help of its own. According to Orchard, her organization is in dire need of volunteers. People who are interested should call the SCRC office at 208-920-1840.

“The work is very rewarding and fulfilling. It's fun and it's a great group of people," she said.