Church provides job-fair help

Published 11:17 pm Saturday, July 5, 2014

Greater First Baptist Church Orlando is pulling out all the stops to assist job-seekers at this week’s large job fair at King’s Fork Middle School.

The inaugural Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority job fair attracted so many people last year at the Salvation Army’s Bank Street headquarters that they had to move it to a larger venue this year.

After seeing an article on the job fair in the Suffolk News-Herald, George Bailey Jr., a minister at Greater First Baptist Church Orlando, said he came up with the idea to help with the assistance of his mother — who showed him the article — and members of the church.

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“We have a men’s ministry at our church, and several of the men who are unemployed have been seeking employment,” Bailey said. “This couples up with what we’ve been trying to do to reach out to those in the congregation and the community who have a genuine need.”

Before Friday’s event, job-seekers can get help creating their resume, getting copies of their resumes, finding assistance in preparing for the interview and getting a haircut and clothes, Bailey said. On the day of the event, the church will provide transportation from the church and a bag lunch.

Unfortunately, the one thing the church hasn’t been able to pull together is childcare, Bailey said.

“We feel like, with this, you will have no excuse as to why you can’t come, with the exception of childcare,” Bailey said. “We’ve been trying to go beyond the walls to have a genuine outreach program.”

More than 40 vendors, including schools and local employers, will be in attendance at the fair, according to organizers. No prior registration is required for the fair, which lasts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For assistance offered by the church, sign up at the church at 600 Factory St., call the church at 539-0032 or email georgebaileyjr@gmail.com.