SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Hispanic Heritage Month is all about celebrating diversity within the community and one local real estate group is looking to celebrate just that.

Tonight, Kellar Williams hosted their third annual Hispanic Heritage Month party, but they are hoping to do more than just display Hispanic culture. 

Tonight's event was not just a celebration of Hispanic culture but a way for people to help support diverse families right here in the Ozarks.

While food, games, and entertainment lined Kellar Willams Hispanic Heritage Month party, Maria Galgano, a realtor for Kellar Willams believes it is an opportunity to do more than celebrate.  

Galgano moved to the Ozarks in 2019 and said there was a disconnect between the Ozarks and the Hispanic community. She began this event to bridge that gap.  

“When I moved here, I noticed that I really had to go out in the community to find businesses. It was not as easy to find them,” Galgano said. “We launched this event in hopes to showcase the Latino community during Hispanic Heritage Month and showing all the amazing small businesses that all of the people from different countries have here in the area.” 

The proceeds from the event will all go to benefit Hand In Hand, a multicultural resource center in Springfield that provides special services and programming for minority individuals and families right here in Springfield. 

“They are the only ones approved by the [Department of Justice] to be able to help us, that are not attorneys, to be able to help with immigration documents,” Galgano said. “Which means that if you're Hispanic or Latino, you get to save a ton of money on not having to pay an attorney to help you with some of the documentation.” 

4.6% of people in Springfield identify as Hispanic or Latino. While that number may seem small, Kazuya Gavin tells me people are surprised to find out about that population. 

“There are more immigrants here than people realize. It's something that I hear from a lot of people when I tell them what I do here. They're always surprised that we have an immigrant population in general.” 

News Source : https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/hispanic-heritage-party-raises-money-for-multicultural-center/