Las Vegas Now8 On Your Side Community Fair Helps Residents

8 On Your Side Community Fair Helps Residents

Channel 8's 8 on your Side Help fair held on May 14^th helped over 1,000 families find help in getting through these tough economic times.

Six months ago, Kent Oborn was carefree with not a worry in the world. As a building painter, there was always work. "It's never let me down. It's been great. It's always paid the bills and gave very good money," he said.

That was then, but now Kent is unemployed and he and his family may lose their home. "I've never been without a job in my life," he said.

Kent is worried and is seeking help at the 8 On Your Side community help. "I came here today to get some rental assistance and some food assistance. There's not work out there. All I know is painting and construction. It's real hard to come by right now," he said.

Then there's Alma Osario and her daughter Crystal. "It's been really hard because I'm the only one working right now," she said.

Her husband lost his job three months ago. They have no money and no health insurance. Crystal will get free immunization shots at the event, along with dozens of others. "The shots are really expensive. I can barely pay the bills," she said.

There are booths and volunteers here. It provides assistance in everything from food to housing needs. The United Way says there's a nearly 30-percent increase in attendees every time the fair is held.

For Oborn and Osario, they say the resource fair is a blessing in these troubled times. "I mean, I'm about ready to start collecting cans. I don't know what to do," said Oborn.

Channel 8 will host two more of these fairs at the Heinrich YMCA on August 11 and November 5 from noon - 4:30 p.m.