Several human and social service agencies in Rome are collaborating in an effort to avoid the duplication of services to the needy in Rome and Floyd County during the upcoming holiday season.

The effort, being spearheaded in part by the Community Actions Partners, Good Neighbor Ministry and Rome ReSale, has acquired the old website of www.RomeKares.com and has renamed it www.capcares.com. The new website is still under construction.

RomeKares was created in November of 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to serve as a centralized location for Rome’s effort to aid hurricane victims, a number of who actually relocated to Rome and Floyd County. The organization operated out of the old Kroger on Hicks Drive, which is currently the home of a Goodwill thrift store.

Angela Watts, executive director of Rome ReSale, said that a number of agencies have bought into the joint service concept.

“This is all in an effort to curb duplication of services, make sure that one person doesn’t get too much while another family doesn’t get anything,” Watts said. “It’s to try to stretch the resources of the community.”

Watts said that anyone who needs help during the holidays, whether it be food, toys, or even financial aid should register through the Good Neighbor Ministries office, 208 E. Second St., in downtown Rome. The office is open from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, or people can call 706-291-0556.

Watts said that it’s not unusual for local schools to be flooded the week before Christmas with people seeking help, so the consolidated point of entry into the system should be a major benefit to the school system as well as the needy during the holidays.

The Toys for Tots program is participating in the collaborative effort, as is the Sheriff’s Santa program, the Department of Family and Children’s Services, Heroes Great and Small, the Commission on Children and Youth, Exchange Club Family Resource Center and many others. Watts also said the project is not just about Christmas.

Information about the city of Rome’s moderate and minor home repairs program will also be available on the website as it develops fully after the holidays.

“We’re going to have everything and anything that has to do with resources in Floyd County,” Watts said. “We’ll have all the agencies listed, who they are, what they do, why they do it, where they’re at, what they offer, so if you’re a client in Floyd County and you need food or you need toys or you need whatever, you can go to that website and find where to find it.”

Watts said Community Action Partners will focus on the website as soon as Christmas is over, with the assistance of a Berry College Bonner scholar.