Editor,

Hundreds of people crowded the National Guard Armory on Saturday, June 4, for Hinesville’s first-ever Project Homeless Connect.

I am grateful for the overwhelming support and participation we received to address the needs of the homeless and people at risk of being homeless in our community. 

I am extremely grateful to the service providers of 48 organizations from Hinesville, Fort Stewart, Savannah, Jesup, Camden County, Charleston and surrounding areas for responding to our call and being our corps of dedicated workers. I applaud them and the 92 volunteers, food providers, churches, social clubs and businesses for braving the heat, the gnats and high humidity for the four-hour event.   

I want to thank Mayor Pro Tem Charles Frasier and City Councilman David Anderson for helping us kick off the event. 
Several out-of-town providers, who have attended PHC events across Georgia, were surprised to see government leaders participating. 

I was proud and appreciative that Mr. Frasier, Mr. Anderson and Kenneth Howard (assistant city manager) attended. 
The atmosphere remained charged throughout the day with music, door-prize drawings, a Zumba demonstration, a praise dance and lots of activity. We had our own barber and beauty salon, dental screenings and people were able to apply for housing, food stamps and other services. Café Connect was open for food and relaxation. 

I was very excited as I observed so many people coming through the doors, greeted with smiles and treated with the respect they deserved. There were numerous acts of service and kindness in one place on Saturday. The diversity was amazing and the overall response was exceptional. The event also provided a unique opportunity for new relationships and future collaboration with new partners. 

Again, I commend those who cared, supported and stepped forth — some out of the shadows — to champion the prevention of homelessness and poverty in our community.

Service providers
• American Red Cross 
• Agape Christian Fellowship
• AmeriGroup
• Bethel AME
• Board of Education
• Consumer Credit Counseling Services
• Christ Tabernacle of Faith Church
• Dept. of Veterans Affairs — Fort Stewart and Charleston
• Fort Stewart Dental Activity
• Dept. of Labor 
• DeShae’s Salon
• Ease the Pain Massage Clinic
• GACHI Serving for Deaf
• Gum Branch Church
• Hinesville Fire Dept.
• Homeless Coalition
• Hair Etc.
• Housing Authority 
• Jazzy’s
• JC Vision and Associates
• Kirk Healing Center
• Health Dept.
• Department of Family and Children Services
• Manna House
• Liberty County Headstart
• Hardee’s
• McDonald’s
• Mt. Zion
• Nu Image
• Right from Start Medicaid
• Savannah Technical College
• Source Care Mgmt, Jesup
• Stephen Ministry
• Southern BBQ
• Mary Kay
• Camden County Re-entry
• Winn Army CommunityHospital
• 4-H Program
• Probate Court
• Georgia Legal Services
• Townsend Dental

Cash donors
• Derek White, the White Law Group
• Mabel Burford, associate broker
• The Dugout
• Star Social Club
• Worldwide Fraternity of Turtles, Hinesville No. 1

Door-prize donors
• DeShae’s Salon
• Roffler’s
• Selena’s
• Mickey’s
• Stepping Out
• Styles by Alice
• Special Dimensions
• Mary Kay — Wanda Julien
• Fellowship of Love Church
• K&K Thrift Shop
• Bethel AME
• Food Lion
• Dr. Wege’s Dental
• Pastor Kathleen Ayala
• That’s Italian
• $20 and Below
• United Way

— Daisy Jones
Homeless Prevention Program Coordinator
City of Hinesville Community
Development Department