The Caring Communities Day celebration packs so much fun, LINC is doing it twice, this time heading to Kansas City’s Southland.

The Fall Festival, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will bring free music, food, games, family resources and more to Longview Shopping Plaza at Blue Ridge Boulevard and Longview Road.

“The enthusiasm shared by families, schools and local businesses will truly be inspirational,” said Marj Williams, LINC Commissioner and former superintendent of the Hickman Mills School District.

“This event will not only showcase the spirit of our community but also significantly promote participation from diverse groups in the Southland.”

LINC is joining Community America Credit Union and Metropolitan Community College-Longview in hosting the festival.

Everyone is invited to take part, said LINC’s Drake Bushnell, who is helping bring the show together.

“We want to recreate Caring Communities Day so we can reach families that might not be able to get to east Kansas City (where LINC held the first Caring Communities Day in August),” he said.

That means there will be music, hot grilled food, hot chocolate, treats, and many resources for families from partners including the Kansas City police and fire departments, legal aid from Justice in the Schools, online and technology support from KC Digital Drive and Essential Families, health screenings from University Health, social services from the Community Assistance Council, voting information from the League of Women Voters, and books and literacy support from Literacy KC and the Mid-Continent Public Library’s Reading Rocket.

Other services will be on hand with Habitat for Humanity, the Urban League, the Urban Summit and employment services from the Full Employment Council.

The mission, Williams said, is “to engage vital partners to create an invaluable opportunity to ensure that our community has equal access to resources that enrich the lives of all families.”

Students from LINC’s programs in the surrounding school districts — Hickman Mills, Grandview and Center — will be displaying many of their programs, including cheer teams and the Mighty Wild Eagles Drill Team and Drum Line from Hickman Mills South Middle School.

October is the time of year that LINC programs annually hold Lights On Afterschool events to celebrate the importance of after-school programs and community schools, said Breona McNeil, a LINC program supervisor. Visitors at the Fall Festival will get a taste of Lights On as well.

“The students get to showcase their skills,” McNeil said, “and showcase what they’re working on, and just have fun embracing their individuality.”

Most of all, the festival will show what’s possible when the Southland comes together, Williams said.

“The event will serve as a powerful demonstration of what great partnerships can achieve,” she said. “By working collaboratively, we can create a brighter future for the students and their families where everyone can celebrate their unique contributions and access the support they deserve.”