Resource fair, picnic held for residence of International Towers following return home

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - It's been just over one month since residents of International Towers began to return home after two months of being displaced due to the gas explosion at the neighboring Realty Building in Downtown Youngstown.
Now, two local non-profits have partnered to sponsor a Mobile Hope Resource Fair, as well as a picnic for those residents who are readjusting to their lives back home.
The Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) and the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley partnered to provide residents opportunities to access the resources and services they may need during this time.
Additionally, a picnic was held for the residents featuring food donated by several local restaurants including Jersey Mike's Subs in Boardman, Nothing Bundt Cakes in Boardman, Perkins and Avalon Downtown.
United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley Vice President Roxann Sebest tells 21 News this event is to remind International Towers residents that they have not been forgotten even after they moved back home.
"[These residents] went through a lot, so the more we can give them back, like bringing them food [and] having a picnic for them is the least that we can do because they went through a lot these last few months," Sebest said.
Sebest says these residents can still reach out to United Way at any time to be connected to an organization that can assist them with any needs they still might have like rent help, food vouchers or mental health support.