PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT

Volunteering is Sexy

Help someone who is homeless in your community get the services they need! Volunteer at the next Project Homeless Connect (PHC) at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St. One-two hour shifts are available from 10:00-3:00 PM. To register please visit the website: www.ProjectHomelessConnect.com

Since Project Homeless Connect began 3 years ago over 20,000 San Franciscans experiencing homelessness have been connected to services. These services include health care, substance abuse help, legal support, benefits, housing and more. Project Homeless Connect is a collaboration between 250 government and non-profit service providers, and over 300 corporations. At each event over 1,000 community individuals volunteer help. To date 15,000 volunteers have been a part of this innovative program.

To learn more, contact Social Justice Coordinator, Sandy Rechtschaffen at (415) 751-2541 x 177 or sandyr@emanuelsf.org

MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT

Kim Wallins decided to volunteer at Project Homeless Connect after hearing about it from colleagues and from members of Congregation Emanu-El. When someone said, "Volunteering at the Project Homeless Connect Story Table changed my life," she decided that's where she would volunteer.

At the Story Table, she recorded clients talking about their lives and how they came to be homeless. One by one they shared their unthinkable stories of growing up amongst drugs, poverty, abuse and violence. Most never had people show real interest in them, much less willing to sit and listen for as long as they wished to talk. That day, Kim discovered something about herself. She had often turned a blind eye to the homeless. Listening to their stories, in a one-on-one setting, helped her to see the "real" person behind the story. She recognized that she could have grown up like any of them and been in their shoes today.

One well-spoken man sat down to speak with Kim. Judging by his appearance, she never would have thought he was homeless. He began, "A year ago I was homeless. As of a month ago I'm no longer homeless, because of this event. Now I have my own apartment, my own Comcast cable, my own credit card," he said, opening his wallet as evidence. "This event gave me hope, and hope is what got me through."

The next Project Homeless Connect event is Friday, June 6, 2008, at Pier 48 in San Francisco. Volunteers are needed in dozens of areas, from food service to client escort. Please make the time to make the difference!

For more information, click here.