State legislators host Millsboro Community Resource Fair

Millsboro, Del. – On Tuesday, residents gathered at the American Legion 28 to ask questions directly to members of state agencies in addition to the events organizers, Reps. Jeff Hilovsky (R-District 4) and Valerie Jones Giltner (R-District 37) and State Sens. Brian Pettyjohn (R-District 19) and Gerald Hocker (R-District 20).

“Sometimes it’s just nice to have a conversation versus a phone versus a text versus an email,” Hilovsky said. “So we thought this would be a really nice opportunity for many agencies to come and visit with the constituents.”

For the representatives of agencies like Delaware Sea Grant out of the University of Delaware, resource fairs like these help them build connections with residents while educating their community.

“These are the types of connections we’re trying to make,” Dr. Edward Hale said. Hale is an associate professor at the University of Delaware and leads the Fisheries & Aquaculture department at the Delaware Sea Grant College Program. “For us, it’s about getting out into the community, kind of making those connections and talking to people to help educate them.”

Jones Giltner said it was also important to be able to make face time with state agencies and organizations more accessible for residents, especially in rural areas.

“We don’t need to do it close to Dover, right? We need to bring it out where people live,” she said.

For Lori Kaupas, a Millsboro resident, this kind of initiative helps her not only get her questions answered, but helps inspire her curiosity and ability to learn about issues impacting her and her neighbors, all while building a sense of community.

“I wanna know how I can learn more because Delaware is a different state. It’s like it’s a community,” Kaupas said.