CANTON – St. Lawrence County Commissioner of Social Services Christopher Rediehs will speak on “Our County’s Growing Poor and Homeless” at the Canton Area Zonta Club dinner Nov. 16.

Rediehs will speak about the increase in the number of county families and individuals who have had to resort to using Food Stamps and have found themselves without jobs and in some instances, without a place to live.

As a number of businesses and plants in St. Lawrence County have laid off workers in recently years, the county Department of Social Services experienced increased loads for their staff and the need to reach out even more to provide a variety of service and aid to those who have fallen to or below the poverty level.

Prior to being appointed commissioner in 2008, Rediehs was executive director of the St. Lawrence County Housing Council. As an attorney, he has also served with the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and was a judicial law clerk for the First Judicial District of Minnesota.

Rediehs graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Minnesota Law School and holds a Master of Planning degree from the University of Illinois and a BA with high honors in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois.

The dinner will take place at the Silas Wright House, catered by the Blackbird Cafe.

Zonta Pres. Penny Pitts and Membership Chair Sigie Barr encourage interested prospective new members to call 379-1333.