Our community has been through a difficult stretch following the severe storms and widespread power outage.
We know many families are still working to get back to normal. Below is a Community Resource Handout with helpful information and local resources available to residents during this time.
Please share this post with neighbors, friends, and family who may find these resources helpful.
Revised 8-22-2026
State Disaster Relief Fund – Individual Assistance
The State Disaster Relief Fund applies only to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. State funding cannot replace insurance coverage, which is the primary and best source of protection from storm damage. The fund only covers the costs of repairing, replacing, or restoring the applicant’s primary residence and cannot be used to pay insurance deductibles.
In Indiana, if your power was out for at least four hours and your refrigerated or frozen food spoiled, you can get replacement SNAP benefits. You must report the loss to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) within 10 days of the outage by calling
1-800-403-0864 and filing a food loss affidavit. For the recent outages, the date has been extended to Monday, August 31.
DownlThe Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is the first national hotline dedicated to providing year-round disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
The American Red Cross is urgently trying to locate homeowners and renters in Merrillville and surrounding communities whose homes were heavily damaged or destroyed during the recent severe weather event. Financial assistance may be available to eligible individuals and families.If your home or apartment sustained major damage or was destroyed, please get in touch with the American Red Cross as soon as possible.
Have you ever dreamed of exploring the rainforests of Costa Rica, experiencing the charm of Ireland, or witnessing the breathtaking beauty of America’s canyon country?
The Friends of the Crown Point Library are excited to announce three travel opportunities for 2027 through Collette Tours. These professionally guided tours offer travelers the opportunity to experience unforgettable destinations while supporting the Crown Point Community Library.
To introduce these exciting adventures, the Friends invite the community to attend a special Travel Presentation on Wednesday, August 12 at 6 p.m. at the Crown Point Community Library.
Representatives from Collette Tours will provide an overview of each tour, discuss itineraries, accommodations, pricing, and available early booking discounts. The Friends are also partnering with All About Vacations, a local travel agency, to help promote the tours and assist travelers with questions and reservations.
Featured 2027 Tours
Tropical Costa Rica
March 8–16, 2027
Journey through one of the world’s most biodiverse destinations. Explore lush rainforests, encounter incredible wildlife, and experience the natural beauty and culture of Costa Rica.
Experience Ireland’s rolling green countryside, historic castles, charming villages, and vibrant culture on this unforgettable tour of the Emerald Isle.
When travelers reserve one of these Collette tours through the Friends of the Crown Point Library, the Friends receive a commission from Collette. Those funds are used to support library programs, services, events, collections, and community initiatives throughout the year.
By choosing one of these tours, you’ll enjoy an incredible travel experience while helping enhance the resources and programs that benefit our community.
Join Us for the Travel Presentation
Wednesday, August 12 6 p.m. Crown Point Community Library
Whether you’re an experienced traveler or simply curious about these destinations, we invite you to attend and learn more about these exciting travel opportunities.
Adventure awaits—and your next journey could help support your library.
Visitors to the Crown Point Community Library can explore two fascinating exhibits that highlight the history, determination, and lasting impact of the women’s suffrage movement. Both exhibits are on display through the end of July during regular library hours.
“A Right Worth Fighting For: The History of the League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area”
Located in the library’s display cases in the main lobby, this exhibit, presented by the League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area (LWVCA), tells the story of more than a century of civic engagement.
Through historical documents, photographs, clothing, and artifacts, the exhibit traces the founding of the local Leagues of Women Voters in the Calumet area, which eventually merged to become today’s LWVCA. Visitors will learn about the long struggle that led to women gaining the right to vote in 1920 and discover how the League has continued its mission of educating voters, encouraging civic participation, and protecting the right to vote for all citizens.
The exhibit serves as a powerful reminder that while the fight for women’s suffrage culminated with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, the work of strengthening democracy continues today.
“Securing the Vote: Women’s Suffrage in Indiana”
Also on display through July is Securing the Vote: Women’s Suffrage in Indiana, a traveling exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society located in the library’s gallery hallway.
This compelling exhibit explores the history of Indiana’s suffrage movement, beginning with the state’s first Indiana Woman’s Rights Convention held in Dublin in 1851 and continuing through the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920.
Visitors will discover how Hoosier women spent more than 70 years organizing meetings, leading campaigns, and advocating tirelessly for equal voting rights. Despite numerous setbacks and defeats, they remained steadfast in their pursuit of full citizenship and the power to shape their communities through the ballot box.
Securing the Vote: Women’s Suffrage in Indiana is a project of the Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial, catalyzed by Indiana Humanities, the Indianapolis Propylaeum, the Indiana Historical Society, and the Indiana Historical Bureau, with support from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Both exhibits are free to view and will remain on display at the Crown Point Community Library through July 31 during regular library hours.
The Crown Point Community Library is honored to be recognized by the American Red Cross with a Certificate of Recognition for our commitment and dedication as a Premier Blood Partner.
In 2025, generous donors who rolled up their sleeves at library blood drives helped collect 507 units of blood, making a meaningful impact on patients in need throughout our region. Every donation has the potential to save multiple lives, and this achievement reflects the incredible generosity of our community.
We are grateful to every blood donor, volunteer, and American Red Cross staff member who has helped make our blood drives successful. Your willingness to give one hour of your time can provide hope to accident victims, surgery patients, cancer patients, and others facing life-threatening medical conditions.
Our Next Blood Drive: Thursday, July 9 from 12-6 p.m.
Our next American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Thursday, July 9, and appointment times are filling quickly.
As an added thank you, everyone who comes to donate (while supplies last) will receive an exclusive Looney Tunes-themed American Red Cross T-shirt.
Whether you’re a first-time donor or a regular participant, your donation can make a real difference. Summer is often a challenging time for maintaining an adequate blood supply, making every appointment especially important.
Help us continue our tradition of serving the community—both through books and by helping save lives.
The Crown Point Community Library is excited to once again partner with the City of Crown Point to bring families together for another season of free outdoor movie series at Bulldog Park.
From June through September, community members of all ages are invited to enjoy family-friendly movies under the night sky. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, family, and friends for an evening of entertainment and community connection.
2026 Movie Schedule
GOAT Friday, June 26
Hoppers Friday, July 31
Zootopia 2 Friday, August 21
Bad Guys 2 Friday, September 4
All movies will be shown at Bulldog Park. Gates open at 7 p.m., and movies begin at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is free, and no registration is required.
Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for seating. Please note that pets, outside food, and outside beverages are not permitted. Concessions will be available for purchase during each event.
Community Partnerships Make It Possible
The Library is grateful to the City of Crown Point for partnering with us to host this popular community event. By working together, local organizations can create opportunities that bring residents together, strengthen community connections, and provide accessible family entertainment for everyone to enjoy.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the Friends of the Crown Point Library, whose sponsorship of the movie licensing fees helps make this series possible. Their ongoing financial support allows the Library to offer enriching programs and events beyond what traditional funding can provide.
Why Support Matters
The Crown Point Community Library is more than a place to borrow books. It serves as a community gathering space where people can learn, explore, connect, and create memories together. Programs like our Free Movie Nights demonstrate how community partnerships and philanthropic support directly benefit local families.
We invite everyone to join us this summer at Bulldog Park and experience firsthand the impact that community partnerships can have.
We look forward to seeing you for Big Stories Under the Stars!
Due to the severe weather advisory and in the interest of public safety,
the Crown Point Community Library has rescheduled its Summer Reading Kick-Off Celebration.
The event will now take place on Monday, June 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bulldog Park.
Get ready to dig into a summer full of reading, discovery, and adventure!
The Crown Point Community Library invites families of all ages to join us for our 2026 Summer Reading Kick-Off Celebration on Monday, June 15 from 4-7 p.m. at Bulldog Park. This free community event launches our Summer Reading Program, “Unearth A Story,” and is packed with activities designed to spark imagination and encourage a lifelong love of reading.
We’re grateful to the Crown Point Rotary Club for sponsoring this year’s Kick-Off Celebration and helping us create a memorable experience for families throughout our community. Their generous support helps make this event possible and demonstrates their continued commitment to literacy, education, and community engagement.
In partnership with the City of Crown Point, attendees can enjoy a variety of hands-on activities, including:
Adopt-A-Dinosaur
Fossil Dig
Bounce Houses
Face Painting
Summer Reading Registration
Library Card Sign-Up
And more exciting activities!
Whether you’re a longtime library user or visiting us for the first time, the Kick-Off Celebration is the perfect opportunity to learn about Summer Reading, sign up for the program, and start your journey toward discovering new stories all season long.
Summer Reading is open to all ages, and participation is completely free. Readers can earn prizes, attend engaging programs, and discover new adventures through books all summer long.
Mark your calendars and join us as we kick off a summer of reading, learning, and exploration! We look forward to seeing you there as we unearth a story together this summer!
Every summer, thousands of children and teens from birth through age 18 sign up for the Crown Point Community Library’s Summer Reading Program. They’ll attend exciting programs, earn prizes, discover new books, and cheer on their schools in our community-wide reading competition to see which school logs the most reading hours.
From the outside, it may look like a season filled with fun and games—and it is. But Summer Reading is about much more than entertainment. Behind every storytime, every book checked out, every reading log completed, and every hour recorded is a larger purpose: helping students stay engaged in learning during the summer months.
Educators often refer to the “summer slide”, the loss of academic skills and knowledge that can occur when students are away from structured learning for an extended period. Reading is one of the most effective ways to combat that slide. Just a few minutes of reading each day can help children retain critical literacy skills, strengthen comprehension, expand vocabulary, and maintain the learning momentum they’ve built throughout the school year.
That is why the library invests so heavily in Summer Reading.
Our goal is not simply to fill summer days with fun, free, family-friendly activities. Our goal is to help students return to school in August ready to succeed. When children continue reading throughout the summer, they arrive back in the classroom with stronger skills, greater confidence, and a head start on the new school year. Not school yet, the same activities help to build the skills children need to be kindergarten-ready.
Just as importantly, Summer Reading helps nurture something that lasts far beyond a single summer: a love of reading. Children who discover books they enjoy are more likely to become lifelong readers, curious learners, and engaged citizens. Those are benefits that extend well beyond school and into every stage of life.
So yes, Summer Reading is packed with fun programs, friendly competition, and memorable experiences. But at its heart, it is one of the most important educational initiatives the library offers each year.
This summer, every page turned matters. Every minute spent reading counts. And every child who participates is building skills and habits that can last a lifetime.
P. S. The library also provides an Adult Summer Reading Program, too!
The past is coming alive this summer at History Speaks: America 250, an immersive outdoor celebration of America’s story, taking place Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Buckley Homestead (3606 Belshaw Road, Lowell, Indiana).
Presented by the Lake County Parks and Recreation and the Crown Point Community Library, this free event invites visitors of all ages to step into America’s 250-year story through live performances, historical interpreters, hands-on activities, music, exhibits, and interactive experiences.
Throughout the day, guests can meet iconic figures from American history as they walk the grounds and share stories from their unique place in history. Featured presentations in the main barn include appearances by Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, Al Capone, Mamie Eisenhower, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and a special Music of America performance.
Featured Presentation Schedule
10:15 a.m. — Abraham Lincoln
10:30 a.m. — John Adams
11:00 a.m. — Al Capone
12:00 p.m. — Mamie Eisenhower
1:00 p.m. — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
2:00 p.m. — Music of America
Visitors can also experience “The Great War: From Ration Lines to the Front Lines,” a special exhibit exploring Indiana’s role in World War I, from the home front to the global stage.
Families and children will enjoy interactive activities throughout the grounds, while guests of all ages can watch history unfold through reenactments, storytelling, live music, and demonstrations. Hand-cut silhouette portraits will also be available as a memorable keepsake from the day.
Whether you stay for the entire event or stop by for part of the afternoon, there will always be something happening at History Speaks: America 250.
History Speaks is presented in partnership with the Northwest Indiana Civil War Roundtable, and the Lake County Historical Society.
Heritage Support Grants are provided by the Indiana Historical Society and made possible by Lilly Endowment, Inc.
This summer and fall, the Crown Point Community Library invites the community to step back in time and explore the stories, architecture, and people that helped shape Crown Point through a new series of historic tours presented by the Library’s Indiana Room.
Led by Indiana Room Specialist Jeanene Letcher, the “Historic Tours of Crown Point – Crown Point, Then and Now” series offers residents and visitors an opportunity to experience local history in an engaging and interactive way.
Walking Tours
Participants can explore the rich history of the Historic Crown Point Square during guided walking tours through downtown Crown Point. Guests will learn about historic buildings, notable businesses, community landmarks, and how the Square evolved over the years.
Walking tours are free and open to the public. Registration is required and opens two weeks prior to each tour date.
Walking Tour Dates
Monday, May 18 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, May 28 at 6 p.m.
Monday, August 31 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, September 3 at 6 p.m.
Trolley Tours
For those looking to explore beyond downtown, guests can ride aboard Molly the Trolley for a guided tour through Crown Point’s four historic districts. Participants will enjoy a relaxing and informative ride while learning about the homes, architecture, neighborhoods, and stories that helped define the city’s growth and character.
The trolley tours are designed for adults only, and seating is limited. Registration is required and opens two weeks before each tour.
Whether you are a lifelong resident or new to the community, these tours offer a unique opportunity to discover the stories and places that make Crown Point special.
The Crown Point Community Library Indiana Room preserves and shares the history of Crown Point and the surrounding community through collections, programs, and educational outreach opportunities.
This May, the Crown Point Library is proud to showcase a one-of-a-kind community collection from local collector Arturo Blanco. With the help of his wife, Arturo has carefully curated and installed a vibrant display of Kaiju Sofubi figures, offering visitors a unique glimpse into an imaginative art form rooted in Japanese pop culture.
Sofubi, derived from the Japanese term for “soft vinyl,” refers to collectible figures that are typically hand-cast and hand-painted. Known for their bold colors and stylized designs, these pieces are often produced in small batches, making them especially prized among collectors.
The subject of Arturo’s collection, Kaiju, translates to “strange beast” and is commonly associated with giant monsters featured in Japanese films and media—most famously, characters like Godzilla. Today, Kaiju has grown into a global artistic movement, inspiring independent artists and designers to create original interpretations of these larger-than-life creatures.
Arturo created this display simply to bring something fun and unexpected to the community—an opportunity to spark curiosity and introduce visitors to a world they may not yet be familiar with. To enhance the experience, he has also included QR codes throughout the exhibit that link directly to each artist’s Instagram page, allowing visitors to explore the creators and their work beyond the display.
Arturo has spent several years building his collection, drawn to the craftsmanship and creativity behind each piece. This exhibit reflects that passion and invites the community to engage with art in a new and accessible way.
We encourage you to visit the Crown Point Library throughout May to experience this colorful and captivating display. Whether you’re discovering Kaiju Sofubi for the first time or are already a fan, this exhibit offers something truly unique.
To learn more about Arturo and his collection, visit his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/abelhefe
Have you ever dreamed of exploring the rainforests of Costa Rica, experiencing the charm of Ireland, or witnessing the breathtaking beauty of America’s canyon country?
Visitors to the Crown Point Community Library can explore two fascinating exhibits that highlight the history, determination, and lasting impact of the women’s suffrage movement. Both exhibits are on display through the end of July during regular library hours.
The Crown Point Community Library is honored to be recognized by the American Red Cross with a Certificate of Recognition for our commitment and dedication as a Premier Blood Partner.
This May, the Crown Point Library is proud to showcase a one-of-a-kind community collection from local collector Arturo Blanco. With the help of his wife, Arturo has carefully curated and installed a vibrant display of Kaiju Sofubi figures, offering visitors a unique glimpse into an imaginative art form rooted in Japanese pop culture.
