Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Volunteer for Project Homeless Connect - Minneapolis 3-29-10!

(Originally from a letter by Patricia McHugh, Volunteer Coordinator, PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT)

Dear Friends,

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED - Ending homelessness, one person at a time.

1300 volunteers needed for Monday, March 29 for Project Homeless Connect

Project Homeless Connect is a one-stop shop for delivering services to people experiencing homelessness. Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis are partnering with service providers, businesses, citizens, and faith communities to bring multiple resources to one location where people can come to find the services they need, including: housing providers, employment specialists, medical care, mental health care, benefits specialists, eye care, haircuts, transportation assistance, food and clothing.

What to expect:
If you can help at the Monday March 29 event, you will find the Convention Center space will be set up with many tables, rooms, and areas for the various services available and volunteers will assist the guests in connecting with the assistance they need or request. With about 1800 participants expected for this event, at least 1300 volunteers are needed to make the day successful. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
Monday, March 29, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Minneapolis Convention Center

Volunteer Shifts and Training

The March event will start at 10 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. with two shifts for volunteers: (1) 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and (2) 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

All volunteers are asked to arrive by 9:00 a.m. A 90 minute fun and informative training for Project Homeless Connect is required for everyone except those who trained and volunteered for a previous event.

At this training, Cathy ten Broeke, the project director, will orient the volunteers and answer questions about the event. Attendance at one of the training sessions is strongly recommended for all volunteers in order to make the volunteer experience more satisfying and to offer the best service to the guests.

Training sessions are scheduled for:
  • Monday, 3/15, 10:00 a.m.Brookdale Public Library6125 Shingle Creek ParkwayBrooklyn Center MN 55430
  • Tuesday, 3/16, 7:00 p.m.First Universalist Church3400 Dupont Ave SMinneapolis, MN 55408
  • Wednesday, 3/17, 10:00 a.m.Lutheran Social Service2400 Park Ave SMinneapolis, MN 55404
  • Monday, 3/22, 10:00 a.m.St Mary's Greek Orthodox Church3450 Irving Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
  • Tuesday, 2/23, 7:00 p.m.Ridgedale Public Library12601 Ridgedale Dr,Minnetonka, MN 55305
Please choose one training session.

To volunteer for March 29, please click here or go the web site http://www.homelessconnectminneapolis.org/.
Click on the bar in the heading that says, "Please join us as a volunteer."

That will take you directly to a new and improved volunteer registration page. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Please share our e-mail with anyone interested in helping us reach our goal of 1300 volunteers!

You WILL NOT receive a confirmation email, so please make note of the date and location of your training as well as the volunteer shift for which you registered. You will receive an email in late March with a reminder of the training dates/times.

To make a donation to Project Homeless ConnectEmail us at : projectconnectmpls@gmail.com or visit our web site to donate securely online through Network for Good. The only donations being accepted for the March 29 Homeless Connect are cash contributions. Neither clothing nor any other goods will be accepted for the March 29 Homeless Connect

We are counting on you. Please be the one to help a person experiencing homelessness remove barriers to having a home!

How did it go last year?
At Project Homeless Connect on December 7, 2009, about 1650 individuals experiencing homelessness were assisted by more than 1500 volunteers in accessing services at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Of the guests visiting the housing area, 175 completed housing applications and 179 were placed on a housing wait list while 16 received rent assistance. In the various health care areas, 102 people received urgent medical care and foot care, 64 people received a mental health evaluation and 305 saw a dentist. Over 92 received prescription eyeglasses with 200 receiving reading glasses. In the legal area, 393 received legal consultation. In employment, 100 enrolled in job training programs, 19 completed employment applications, and 65 received assistance writing resumes. Over 580 guests received state IDs and birth certificates, 163 connected with specific veterans services, and 214 received assistance with Social Security. Seven hundred- eight guests obtained vouchers for shoes and 224 received haircuts.

1 comment:

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