PORT ANGELES — A bounty of resources will be offered to the homeless at the annual Clallam County Project Homeless Connect on Friday.
Free information and assistance will be provided to the homeless or those who are at risk of becoming homeless in a fair-like atmosphere.
The event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., next to Port Angeles City Hall.
“We usually get about 300 people coming through,” Clallam County Health and Human Services Director Iva Burks told county commissioners Monday.
“We have a lot of families that come through, a lot of children, and elderly.”
The seventh-year event, organized by the all-volunteer nonprofit Clallam County Homeless Outreach, provides a fresh start on a journey back to safety, stability, health and hope, organizers say.
Clothing will be distributed at no charge from donations from individuals, businesses and groups.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided to Project Homeless Connect attendees.
Services offered include haircuts, dental extractions, housing assistance, help with identifications, legal and medical assistance, job information, pet sitting, veterans services and social services, according to the event flier.
“We have a dental van there,” Burks said. “There will be some medical providers to check people. There will be free haircuts. Tons of massages. Just all kinds of great services.”
Flooded with donations
After announcing a need for new and gently used clothing Jan. 14, event organizers were flooded with donations from more than 200 community members.
The need for clothing was met in less than one month.
Clallam Transit will provide free transportation to Project Homeless Connect from anywhere in the county Friday.
Riders who indicate they are going to the Vern Burton center or Project Homeless Connect will be issued a day pass for travel to and from the event, Mary Bower, Clallam Transit executive office manager, said Wednesday.
For information on Project Homeless Connect, visit www.facebook.com/ClallamCountyPHC.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
