Expanded second-time event serves local homeless population

Sarah Gibbon, left, and siblings Drayton, center, and Damarion Smith staff one of several tables of provisions while volunteering to help the local homeless community during a People Helping People event Saturday afternoon at the Missouri River Regional Library in Jefferson City.
Sarah Gibbon, left, and siblings Drayton, center, and Damarion Smith staff one of several tables of provisions while volunteering to help the local homeless community during a People Helping People event Saturday afternoon at the Missouri River Regional Library in Jefferson City.

A shy man, dressed in thick overalls and coat, poked his head into the Missouri River Regional Library's meeting room Saturday, where he was welcomed by more than a dozen volunteers ready to help him find clothes, hygiene items or snack food.

As he walked up to the first table with gum and candy, a smile broke across his face. The smile never faded as he found jeans in his size, a warm sweatshirt and a meal-to-go.

The second People Helping People event invited homeless in the community to take home donated items.

The simple, direct concept was born after Chrissy Bolin learned more than 200 people lived in homelessness in Jefferson City, she said. Bolin, a Cole County Health Department employee, helped provide birth certificates to those who attended the Project Homeless Connect in October.

"Before that, I didn't even know there was a problem," she said.

Through social media, Bolin recruited a few volunteers and a surprising amount of donations in December for the first People Helping People event, which served about 20 homeless people.

More than double the volunteers turned out for the January event Saturday. And instead of handing out a few, presorted bags of toiletries and underwear, they filled eight tables with a variety of necessities to choose from.

"You see all these people come together, it makes your heart warm and fuzzy," Bolin said. "People are out there who care, they just don't know what to do."

That includes Jill, a 3-year-old golden retriever, and Chloe, a 7-year-old beagle, newly-certified therapy dogs who came out with Mandy Matthews, 14.

"We like taking them places," Matthews said. "People light up and smile (when they meet the dogs). I think it makes them happier."

Next month, Bolin hopes to collect items specifically requested by those they're serving, such as laundry soap, tents and fleece pants.

The atmosphere is informal and personal. Bolin said she likes to interact with each of the people who come in for help.

"We don't act like we're handing out things," she said. "They're just people; they deserve that respect."

Like most volunteers, Tosha Moore showed up to help Saturday after seeing Bolin's Facebook post. And Moore brought her daughter Jozlyn Chase, 9.

"I'm a Girl Scout leader, and we like to focus on doing more community service," Moore said. "It's up to us to make our community better."

Jozlyn said she feels good helping people but sad there are people without a home.

Moore echoed Bolin's surprise upon learning Jefferson City has more than 200 people living in homelessness.

"That makes me want to help more," she said. "I don't want so many to be homeless.

"If me donating a couple of hours helps, I'll do it."

Call 573-690-2884 for more information.

Link:

www.facebook.com/events/572172312946298/