Project Homeless Connect to change, move this year

Although it will look different than in years past, Project Homeless Connect Jefferson City will again take place in October.

The annual event intended to connect Jefferson City's homeless population with shelter or housing, counseling, food and clothing donations, identification cards, medical checkups and health screenings, and other services will have to be much different this year to meet social-distancing guidelines.

About 200 people have sought services at the event each of the past two years.

This year there will be no volunteer "tour guides" to escort guests to services.

And the event will have a new location. It is to be held Oct. 16 at The Salvation Army Center of Hope, 927 Jefferson St.

The exact time has yet to be determined.

In the past, Project Homeless Connect sprawled across three churches in downtown Jefferson City - First United Methodist, First Baptist and First Christian churches, all clustered along Capitol Avenue.

"We are making sure to provide critical services needed for people in the homeless community," project chairman Edwin Cooper said. "The community health center and the health department will (participate)."

This year, the event will not use volunteers, according to its Facebook page, facebook.com/jcmo.phc.

"We will greatly miss our tour guides, hospitality staff, cooking teams, shuttle drivers, etc., who are always the heart of the event," a post on the page said. "But you can stay engaged with us. We desperately need funds so the event can provide the necessary services to our guests, and every amount helps."

The page asks readers to visit Project Homess Connect's website, where they may donate to the event.

Checks may be mailed to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1407, Jefferson City, MO, 65102, with "PHC-JC" in the memo line.