Boyne Citizen - Announcements

Planning begins for PROJECT CONNECT – your help is needed

Local human service agencies are once again joining forces. Planning for the fifth annual Charlevoix-Emmet Project Connect has begun. This year the event will be held on Wednesday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Community Building at the Emmet County Fairgrounds in Petoskey. Project Connect connects people in need with a range of health and human services needed to improve their lives.

“Project Connect provides an all-inclusive, one day event for people in Charlevoix and Emmet counties to access a wide variety of resources and easily network with others in their community,” says Kathy Hart, Co-Chair of the Events Committee of the Poverty Reduction Initiative, a workgroup of the Charlevoix-Emmet Human Services Coordinating Body (HSCB), and Director of the Manna Food Project. “By bringing together all of the services to one place on one day, we can make an immediate difference in the lives of many.”

The planning team anticipates an event both bigger and better this year. Last year the event reached over 800 individuals. All received a wide range of supportive services. Assistance with housing, food, tax preparation, health services, and much more were provided throughout the day. Free haircuts and chair massages were available. Guests received a meal and gifts of food, personal care and household items.

“Obviously a project of this size brings together a huge number of partners,” says Martha Lancaster, Co-Chair of the event and Director of Char-Em United Way. “We are in need of agencies and businesses to participate; donations of goods; and funds to support the event. Individuals and groups wishing to be involved can contact the United Way or Manna.”

Individuals or businesses interested in donating items might consider conducting a drive at their business, school, or faith community. Lists of specific food, personal care, household, or other items that are most needed are listed on the United Way website www.charemunitedway.org, under Find a Donation Drive.

Project Connect also requires a large crew of volunteers. These opportunities are posted on the United Way’s Volunteer Connections website. Search on the keywords Project Connect.

The local Project Connect is modeled on similar events that have been conducted in hundreds of communities around the country. It has five key principles:

Not business as usual.

No waiting in line.

Hospitality from the whole community. The project engages government and business leaders with non-profit agencies and faith communities.

Immediate access to direct services; Not simply referrals.

Quality of life resources, including haircuts, massage and foot care, phone calls, eyeglasses, dental and medical care, meals, entertainment, and more.

The HSCB has developed a 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties. Project Connect is just one of the initiatives included in that plan as well a part of the action plan of the Poverty Reduction Initiative (www.char-empri.org)

For more information about Project Connect, to volunteer goods, services or funds, contact United Way at 231-487-1006, info@charemunitedway.org or Hart at 231-347-8852, manna@mannafoodproject.org. Information and materials are also available on the Char-Em United Way website www.charemunitedway.org. A video of the 2010 Project Connect can be viewed on YouTube

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Planning begins for PROJECT CONNECT – your help is needed