How can you help the homeless?
Project Homeless Connect has made it easy; all you need to do is volunteer three or more hours of your time.
The initiative provides an opportunity for homeless people to connect with an array of health and human service providers gathered in one area for one day.
The event will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of Capitol Avenue, the location where services will be available at mobile providers and at the three host churches - First United Methodist, First Baptist and First Christian.
Service providers expected at the event will include basic medical, vision, dental, haircuts, showers, birth certificates, IDS, housing counseling and placement, employment services, food stamps, Medicaid, Social Security, substance abuse and mental health services, veterans benefits and services, and more.
Organizers have arranged for the service providers, but volunteers are needed to help them set up from 1-4 p.m. Sunday to pack up and clean up after the event concludes Monday.
Volunteers also are needed Monday to greet participants, determine individuals needs and escort them to the appropriate service provider. Training will be provided at 9 a.m. Monday and again at 11:45 a.m. for volunteers who are available in the afternoon only.
To volunteer or acquire additional information, contact Rhonda Mullen-Rhoads at 573-578-2147 or email [email protected].
During last year's inaugural event, an estimated 185 people were connected to needed services. Some were served immediately with a haircut, dental visit or transportation to obtain needed documents at the Missouri Department of Health or local Social Security office.
Others learned about their eligibility for a range of benefits and received information and/or assistance on how to acquire them.
Based on our observations during last year's event, everyone involved - organizers, volunteers and the homeless - were grateful for the opportunities to establish connections.
And connections sometimes become turning points.