This week 70 area families will enjoy the holidays a little more thanks to a recently established community outreach group.Heidi Box and Jennie Bueneman were well aware of many families having specific needs in the Wright City R-II School District, but resources aren’t often as easy to find. Believing that people wanted to help and just needed a connection, they launched Unite Wright City.“In the end, everyone wants to make a difference,” said Bueneman. “We’re just showing them how to do it.”While the concept is simple, the impact is tremendous.Unite Wright City is a Facebook page that links those in need to those willing to help. And in this case, it doesn’t just mean through monetary donations. Many people are giving of their time and trades as well.“We had someone with a broken shower, and we were able to link them with a plumber who volunteered time,” said Box. “We had a student whose family had a fire and we were able to help them get everything they needed, from food to clothes, to get back to school.”Unite Wright City is able to meet needs for which charities don’t necessarily exist by connecting generous individuals with those needing support.“There are a ton of people who want to give but don’t know how,” said Box.While some of the resources are resident to resident, other assistance has been focused on helping students get their needs met to provide for a healthy education.“We’ve helped with an electric bill or water bill,” said Box, who says the idea began with a need over the summer.When trying to connect students with needs over the summer through the Backpack program, it was discovered the necessary contacts weren’t in place. What started as an idea at the beginning of August has transformed into a tremendous resource with unlimited potential for the community, because the power is in the hands of the people.And now with the combined power of social media, needs are being met on both an individual and group level. This Thanksgiving Unite Wright City is teaming up with Hanny’s Market in Wright City to provide 70 turkeys for area families.“For the holidays we’re working on a few things for Christmas as well, partnering up with Agape, which serves all of Warren County,” said Box.Correction: Unite Wright City's proper name has been corrected throughout this story. We regret the error.Wright City signRecord photo