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.
