Hands On Twin Cities, always striving to stay at the forefront of volunteerism in the Metro Area, recently sent 4 employees (including both halves of this blog) to participate in Project Homeless Connect this past Monday, October 1st, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The first thing we have to say is WOW. That's also the second and third things we have to say. There were 850 volunteers on hand to help 1800 guests navigate the various rooms and hallways that were filled to the brim with housing information, social services, employment information, on-site dental and eye care, clothing donations, and more. This was, without a doubt, the largest volunteer event we've ever been apart of.

For those of you who don't know, Project Homeless Connect is a giant event where Social Service Providers of all types come together under one roof so that, for one day at least, people experiencing homelessness can check out the services they need without having to travel all over town. At Project Homeless Connect, people can get a State Photo ID, visit with a lawyer, get a dental checkup, and get a hot meal all in a matter of a few hours. Each guest is assigned a volunteer who helps them to navigate the event and get the services they need as quickly as possible.

This is a truly amazing event that will connect you with neighbors you never knew you had. And luckily, there are two coming up in 2008! The first is on April 28th. Orientation is required, so register early if you want to participate. All the info you'll need is available here: http://www.homelessconnectminneapolis.org