JCRC mobilizes Jewish community members each year to volunteer their time at Project Homeless Connect. Project Homeless Connect is a national best practice model that originated in San Francisco. Every other month over 1000 community volunteers partner with city government, non-profits and the private sector to provide a one-stop shop of health and human services for homeless San Franciscans. These services include: medical and mental health services, substance abuse counseling, housing, dental benefits, legal help, vision testing, California ID, food, clothing, wheelchair repairs, and more. The ultimate goal of PHC is to provide easy access to services that support the transition of the City's homeless off the streets and into housing. Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who came out on December 3, 2008!
In all, on this day, 140 Jewish community volunteers from 23 partnering organizations and synagogues mobilized to help 1,900 individuals in need access the vital services offered at PHC. These services included medical, dental, employment, housing, substance abuse, legal and much more. Volunteers have shared that this experience: "gave me a sense of connection," and is "Tzedakah in its highest form."
Homeless individuals also exited the site (Bill Graham Auditorium, SF) with a shopping bag full of food as well as a hygiene kit, the latter in large part thanks to the generous contributions (in total approximately 30 filled Safeway bags) from the Jewish Community Hygiene Kit Drive.
Don't miss your chance to join us for a meaningful volunteer experience this year!
2009 Jewish Volunteer Day
The 3rd Annual Jewish Volunteer Day at Project Homeless Connect is going to take place December 9, at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium 8:30 AM- 4 PM.
It is estimated that between 6,000 and 12,000 people are homeless in San Francisco. Join Bay Area Jewish Community volunteers at Project Homeless Connect to support lasting solutions for those individuals in need.
VOLUNTEER on the 9th for all day, half day or even just one hour. Our volunteers are usually placed where there is the most need, such as in client support escorting or in check-in and check-out stations. They are crucial in making clients feel welcome and, as a result, can make an impact on the comfort level needed for clients to engage services. Visit the PHC website to learn more about the tasks.
To sign up, contact mkozun@jcrc.org or (415) 977 7418 with your name, email and/or phone and affiliated Jewish group(s) (if any).
If you have medical, dental or legal services to offer, be sure to let us know as early as possible so that we can connect you to the relevant PHC staff.
COLLECT and deliver unused and unopened items for the Hygiene Kits to be distributed at PHC. We are looking only for these items:
toothbrushes,
toothpaste,
hand soap,
shampoos and conditioners (all 4 ounce and smaller).
Contact any of the partner organizations listed below for the possibility to drop them off before Dec 4th.
ENCOURAGE your synagogue or community organization to partner. It's not too late! Contact mkozun@jcrc.org/ (415) 977 7418
Wednesday, December 9, 2009: Jewish Volunteer Day, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
Watch this 6 minute video to see what PHC is all about.
Real Results from the December 3rd, 2008 PHC Day:
1915 homeless and poor San Franciscans were provided care.
85% of the clients said they got what they came for and 93% said their experience at PHC was a good one.
1273 volunteers came out to help.
Service Station Outcomes:
Acupuncture
42
Banking Services
40
CAAP
163
Dental
50
Employment
70
Eye exams and Glasses
249
Family Services
49
Fedex Holiday Cards
200
Flu shot
91
Hair Cutting
80
HIV testing
45
Housing information
324
ID issued
243
Legal
165
Massage
50
Medical
189
Methadone
54
Phone
350
Podiatry
22
SSI
131
TB Tests seen
22
Veterans Services
25
Veterinarian Services
69
Wheelchair repair
18
And by the end of the day 79 people were off the streets through a combination of stabilization housing, shelter and homeward bound.
I am grateful and humbled by the support and involvement of JCRC and the Jewish community at Project Homeless Connect 25. This has been the second year in a row and the response seems to be growing. At this event we helped over 1900 people who are poor and homeless get the services they need. It has been deeply moving to know that "my" community is behind Project Homeless Connect.
In all, on this day, 140 Jewish community volunteers from 23 partnering organizations and synagogues mobilized to help 1,900 individuals in need access the vital services offered at PHC. These services included medical, dental, employment, housing, substance abuse, legal and much more. Volunteers have shared that this experience: "gave me a sense of connection," and is "Tzedakah in its highest form."