Valley of the Sun United Way Needs Your Help!

June 8, 2011

Contact:

Jeanne Bosarge, Chandler Community Resources Assistant
(480) 782-4358

Mary Lou Valenzuela, Valley of the Sun United Way
(602) 631-4840

Jim Phipps, Chandler Public Information Officer
(480) 782-2225

Volunteers needed for homeless outreach effort

CHANDLER, Ariz. – Chandler is working with the Valley of the Sun United Way to provide an intensive “one day under one roof” event to reach out to individuals, families and veterans experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness.

Volunteers are needed for the Project Connect event taking place Thursday, July 21st at Chandler Christian Church 1825 S. Alma School Rd. The event, which will be open to the public between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. offers instant access to resources people need to start the journey back to health, financial stability, and housing.

Nonprofit and government agencies will provide medical care, showers, haircuts, clothing, meals, bicycle repair, counseling, substance abuse services, employment services, foreclosure prevention information, and connections to housing and other basic health and human services.

Volunteers are needed to work morning and afternoon shifts between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. They will serve meals, distribute clothing and help individuals experiencing homelessness contact the various social service providers at the event.

The Project Connect model has been duplicated in many communities with successful results and was last held in Chandler in 2009 when over 200 volunteers helped over 150 individuals. Shuttles stopped at various locations throughout the City to provide homeless individuals and families with transportation to the event.
A recent one-day homeless street count conducted by the Maricopa Association of Governments identified 1,749 homeless individuals living on the streets in Maricopa County and 4,304 people in emergency and transitional shelters, of which 65 were from Chandler.

Persons interested in being part of the solution to end and prevent homelessness can volunteer for the event at www.vsuw.org/projectconnect. For volunteer groups of 10 or more, contact Farren Hinton at (602) 631-4815 or email fhinton@vsuw.org.