Next Wednesday, April 11, 2012, CHIP (Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention) and the City of Indianapolis will partner again for the 7th Annual Indy Homeless Connect (IHC). Co-chaired by Winnie and Gregory Ballard and Anne Ryder, this day-long event will take place from 9am-4pm at the Indiana Convention Center, Hall I.
Indy Homeless Connect is made possible by the support of over 100 partner agencies and 650+ community volunteers. At last year’s Indy Homeless Connect, 1,035 men, women and children made connections with services that lead to improved health, self-sufficiency and the opportunity to create a home for themselves and their families.
As in the past, families impacted by homelessness participating in the day’s events have access to a safe and supervised on-site childcare area sponsored by KinderCare so that their families will be able to fully utilize and participate in the many services available to them on that day.
Homeless neighbors will be able to access an array of services including housing, employment, benefits and identification, legal aid, mental health, acute medical care, and dental and vision screenings. In addition to these vital services there will be extra “add-on” services available including: haircuts, massages, free phone calls to friends and family, email access, free book distribution, lunch, a take-a-way bag with snacks and hygiene items.
Table Tops For Tots will be on-hand again (our third year) in the childcare area – providing tables and chairs for activities, lunch and snacks throughout the day. However, in addition to tables and chairs, I’m happy to share that thanks to the generosity and time of some wonderful Hamilton Southeastern High School students who volunteered to help, we will also be able to provide brand new fleece blankets to children in the childcare area that day! (In the past, I would always bring 15 or so spare blankets from home for “little ones” to snuggle in for nap time — it’s amazing how many cute little nappers we have after lunch!) However, as a result of this generous contribution of time and talent from HSE students, we will have more than enough blankets for all of the children who will be napping next Wednesday … and better yet… each child will be able to take a blanket to keep!
Indy Homeless Connect is only successful with the help of hundreds of volunteers. If you would like to volunteer on April 11th,
find out more at http://www.chipindy.org/IndyConn.php
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