Adversity in life is a given and usually comes without advance warning. Its impact can be compounded by victims’ lack of preparation for life’s unexpected twists and turns.

That’s the notion behind an important workshop Thursday entitled “Are You Ready?”

A coalition of businesses and service organizations is sponsoring the event from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Paul D. Camp Community College Workforce Development Center. A free dinner is included, but participants must pre-register by Monday so that organizers will have an accurate head count.

Much of the evening will be informal. Starting at 5, an Information Fair, featuring booths by companies and organizations, will allow participants to visit one-on-one with experts on various topics. From 6 to 7:30 is dinner and remarks by guest speakers with expertise in the areas of insurance, living wills and personal finance. The Information Fair then will resume for another hour.

Sponsors are the GFWC Tarrara Woman’s Club and Sedley Woman’s Club, Southampton Memorial Hospital, Paul D. Camp Community College Division of Workforce Development, Manry Rawls Insurance, Bronco Federal Credit Union and The Tidewater News.

Participants will walk away from the workshop with much more knowledge of what they need to do to prepare for health emergencies, natural disasters and job loss, among other misfortunes. That preparation won’t eliminate the pain of tragic events, but it will make coping with them much simpler.

Space is limited, so interested persons should register quickly by calling Anne Williams at 569-6182 or Carolyn Bunn at 569-6128.