Contacts: Pearl Wolfe, Project Homeless Connect Co-Chair, 541-682-4629; Richie Weinman, Project Homeless Connect Co-Chair, 541-682-5533

One of the area’s largest homeless outreach events is in need of more donations. The fourth annual Project Homeless Connect for Lane County event is set for Thursday, March 18 at the Lane Events Center and Fairgrounds. With the event just two weeks away, organizers say donations are down considerably.

Coats, hats, gloves, socks, sleeping bags, children’s clothing and backpacks, as well as personal hygiene products, such as hand sanitizers, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste are all needed. Items will be given away to hundreds of homeless or near homeless men, women and children at the annual event.

Last year’s Project Homeless Connect event served 1,548 guests with the help of 652 community volunteers and more than 400 professional service providers, from doctors and nurses to counselors and hairdressers.

Project Homeless Connect for Lane County is a one-day, one-stop event that provides critical services and basic necessities to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The event offers free on-site medical exams, dental checkups, vision care, hot meals, haircuts and basic provisions. In addition, more than 80 local service agencies provide information on housing, employment, education, legal counsel, addiction treatment, and a variety of other services available for youth, families, seniors and veterans.

Project Homeless Connect is part of a nationwide movement working to help meet the needs of people who are homeless, while engaging the local community in finding solutions for ending homelessness.

Donations may be dropped off at St. Vincent de Paul store locations in Eugene, Springfield and Florence. Items must be labeled “Project Homeless Connect.”  Businesses, organizations, schools or churches interested in collecting items prior to the event may request donation barrels for their respective venues or call 541-682-3798 for details.

For more information about Project Homeless Connect, visit www.homelessconnect.org or contact Judy Riedl, Project Homeless Connect Coordinator, at 541-682-3798 or

Judy.riedl@co.lane.or.us

Amber Fossen

Public Information Officer

Lane County Government

125 E. Eighth Ave.

Eugene, Oregon 97401

541.682.3718

541.359.9143 (cell)