Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week Activities & Press Conference 11/16

United Way of the Midlands
1800 Main Street
Columbia, SC 29201
tel 803.733.7312 or 803.733.5400
www.uway.org

Media Contact:
Joey Wallace
Manager, Communications
803.748.7282
jwallace@uway.org


UNITED WAY OF THE MIDLANDS AND THE MIDLANDS AREA CONSORTIUM FOR THE HOMELESS TO REPORT THE 2009 HOMELESS COUNT RESULTS

What:
United Way of the Midlands and the Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless (MACH) are hosting a press conference to report the results of the 2009 Homeless Count.
All members of the media and the community are welcome to attend this brief presentation for a special announcement about the state of homelessness in our community. Anita Floyd, United Way of the Midlands Vice President of Community Impact, will present the results of the 2009 Homeless Count.

Following the press conference, the Midlands Interfaith Homeless Action Council (MIHAC) will hold a prayer service for people who are homeless.

Who:
Hosted by United Way of the Midlands and MACH
Remarks will be made by
• Donny Supplee, Chair of the Board of Directors for MACH
• Allen Tipping, 2009 MACH Count Coordinator
• Anita Floyd, Vice President Community Impact, United Way of the Midlands

These speakers as well as Jennifer Moore, Director of United Way of the Midlands Financial Stability Council, will be available following the briefing for interviews.

When:
Monday, November 16
11:00 AM

The prayer service sponsored by MIHAC will be held in the Keenan Chapel and will begin at 12:00 PM.

Where:
Trinity Episcopal Church
1100 Sumter St
Columbia, SC 29201

The press conference will be held in Satterlee Hall in the administration building. Enter through the wooden doors from the 1300 block of Sumter Street.

Did you know:
• There are over 1,000 people on a given day literally living on the streets and in shelters
• Many more people experience homelessness during the year or live ‘doubled-up’ with family or friends with no other place to call home
• Homelessness in Richland County has increased 16% in the past two years.
• 1 in 5 homeless adults in the Midlands are veterans.

Another way to lend your hand:
In support of Hunger and Homeless Awareness week November 15-21, United Way of the Midlands and MIHAC are also hosting the Hands for the Homeless Supply Drive. Companies across the Midlands are showing their support by collecting toothpaste, toothbrushes, new socks, new washcloths and other toiletry items that will be used to assemble personal care kits and will be distributed to the homeless during the week of Thanksgiving. (Dates of assembly and distribution are TBD.) There is still time to get involved!

How you can help:
• Collect personal care items until November 25 and drop off completed ‘kits’ in quart or gallon size zip-lock bags.
• Drop off bulk items if you are not able to pre-sort.
• Volunteer to help sort and distribute items.

Donations should be dropped off to Trenholm Road United Methodist Church (3401 Trenholm Road) from November 16-25, Monday-Friday between 8 AM and 4 PM.

Kits will be delivered to the following agencies: Catholic Charities, The Cooperative Ministry, Good Samaritan Clinic, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Lexington Interfaith Community Services, Mental Illness Recovery Center, Inc., Oliver Gospel Mission, Salvation Army, Sistercare, The Winter Shelter and others.

If you have questions about anything in this release, please contact Jennifer Moore at jmoore@uway.org or 803.733.5421.

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About United Way of the Midlands
United Way of the Midlands is the most organized, efficient and accountable system for investing in the community. With over 80 certified partner agencies, United Way works to identify and respond to the critical human service needs of Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties. Funds are raised through workplace campaigns, grant writing and individual donations. For more information, please visit www.uway.org.

Join Other Midlands Leaders for a Special Announcement

We invite you to join with other Midlands community and business leaders for an exciting public announcement and briefing on an extraordinary coalition and a new comprehensive plan to address homelessness in our community. For the past several years, businesses, downtown development leaders, human service agencies, housing and faith-based community leadership have worked together to develop a comprehensive approach to homelessness and the means to achieve it. Please join us on June 26 for a major announcement on a comprehensive new beginning to address the issues surrounding homelessness and better meet the needs of the homeless. For more information, call Mac Bennett at 803.733.5410

Volunteer with Project Pet

There are many opportunities to give your time volunteering with Project Pet.







Just a few of their needs are:

-Adoption Event Volunteers
-Volunteers to socialize the cats and clean the cat rooms at area Petsmart stores
-Dog socialization and training classes at the interim facility
-Cat socialization at our interim facility
-Washing and grooming animals at the interim facility
-Administrative Help
-Fundraising Assistance
-Publicity Assistance
-Graphic Design Assistance

They hold volunteer orientations twice per month so that you can become acquainted with the organization and begin donating your time in an enjoyable and meaningful way. All volunteers are required to attend the orientation before starting their volunteer work.

If you would like to sign up for this orientation or would like further information, please contact their office at 803-407-0991 or email them at petinfo@projectpet.com.

In order to be a step ahead of the process, please download and complete the Volunteer Application and take it to the orientation with you or fax it to their office at 803-407-0996.

Volunteer at St. Lawrence Place

Ways to Give to St. Lawrence Place

Adopt-A-Home Program
Maintaining 28 homes for 28 families is not an inexpensive endeavor, especially when you consider 30-year-old buildings that have called St. Lawrence Place home, and the wear and tear is obvious.

The Adopt-A-Home Program is a way for companies and organizations across the Midlands to actively participate in a proven approach to the homeless situation. Your monetary donation will be applied towards the maintenance and upkeep of our 28 apartments.

By adopting a home at St. Lawrence Place, your company can directly improve the living conditions for our residents. Most importantly, your financial support in renovating and maintaining the apartments will help us continue our mission for years to come.

Monetary Donations
Beyond corporate gifts, St. Lawrence Place has a real need for individual donations.

Your tax-deductible donation will be used to provide housing and programs to the residents at St. Lawrence Place.

NEW! Now accepting donations online

In-kind Donations
Because the families at St. Lawrence Place have lost their homes, they no longer have the basic household items needed to furnish and maintain a home. St. Lawrence Place will gladly accept the following items:

New blankets, pillows, mattress covers, sheets and towels

Dressers, small kitchen tables and end tables
TV’s, VCR’s and DVD’s in working condition
Cleaning items, laundry products and paper goods
Personal hygiene items, diapers, etc.
To schedule a donation drop-off, please call St. Lawrence Place at 256-3999. St. Lawrence Place does not currently have a way of picking up donations.

Volunteers at St. Lawrence Place
If you are willing to donate your time and talent to SLP, please call 256-3999. Our organization offers the following opportunities for volunteers:

Mentoring children, teens and adults

Homework help
Teaching Life Skill Classes (to both children and adults)
Light yard work such as planting flowers or mowing grass
Light administrative work such as answering phones and filing

Creative Donations
Please contact St. Lawrence Place if you wish to donate your time to photograph, paint, write or design for St. Lawrence Place.
Creative Donors include the following:

The CreateAthon by CC Riggs brought us our new brochures whose graphics were integrated into the design of this website.

Margaret Ravenel Alpert contributed some photographs that are on this website.

For more information about volunteering for St. Lawrence Place, please contact:

Lila Anna H. Sauls
Executive Director
lasauls@stlawrenceplace.org

St. Lawrence Place Volunteer Opportunties

Oyster Roast to benefit St. Lawrence Place
Date: Friday, February 15th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Home of Diana and Lee Ayers
825 Hampton Hill Road
Columbia, South Carolina

Needs:
Set-up Volunteers (Noon-6:00 p.m.)
Evening Raffle Volunteers (50/50 or game of choice)


Apartment Renovation
Renovate unit 55-A in order to prepare for new family. SLP has a budget of $1500 for the unit.

Needs:
paint
flooring
cabinets
repair needed windows
appliances
furniture and household items (used)
light fixtures


Children’s Program
Volunteers are needed Mondays, 2:30 – 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. to work with the (30) children in the following areas:
craft projects
mentoring
homework assistance
outside games/activities
misc. special projects


Adult Program
Volunteers are needed who are willing to “adopt” a family and serve as a link to the community. Monetary donations are not the primary focus – the focus should be on mentoring and relationship-building.

Volunteers willing to lead an adult lifeskill class are also welcome. These classes are help on Monday nights, 6:30-8:00 and are mandatory for all residents. Subjects include empowerment, nutrition, parenting, budgeting, etc.

Contact: Lila Anna Sauls
Phone: 803.256.3999
Website: http://www.stlawrenceplace.org/