As of the last point-in-time count earlier this year, there were 80 people without homes in Orange County. And chances are, those people need the same types of services and resources that people with homes do.
That’s what coalition members with the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness were thinking when they created Project Connect. It’s a chance for those who are experiencing or are at risk for homelessness to stop by and get everything from a winter coat to legal advice to a haircut and makeover for job interviews.
“Our goal this year is to really have quite a festive atmosphere and a joyous atmosphere so of course there’s food… we’re no dummies,” said Corey Root. She’s the Homelessness Program Coordinator for Orange County.
She said the event is a chance for the whole community to work together.
“It’s super important to get services for folks” Root said. “But we also want to have a day where we are coming together as a community and feeling that, feeling that celebration and not that sort of dire, ‘Here are your services.’ But really quite a joyous event for the whole community.”
Thursday, October 27 will be the tenth Project Connect for Orange County. It will be held at the Hargraves Center on Roberson Street from 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Root said OCPEH is looking for both volunteers and donations for the event.
“We’re asking folks if they’ve got winter clothing, coats in particular,” she said. “We’re also soliciting for gift cards for grocery stores so we can buy supplies… grocery stores or Walmart or Target or any store where we can buy supplies for the event.”
Root said it’s rewarding to be able to provide these services to those who need them. But she said it’s also rewarding that so many other Orange County residents have been so eager to help out at Project Connect in the past.
“It spoke to me a lot about the values of our community and how just what a great place Orange County is” Root said. “So it was just wonderful.”
OCPEH is looking for volunteers for the following:
- Parking
- Guest Intake
- Recycling
- Massage
- Hair Styling
- Clean-Up
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