One day a year, the Hargraves Community Center is transformed into a place where people facing homelessness can access basic services.
On Thursday, the center hosted Project Connect, an annual event planned by the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness.
The event, now in its seventh year, offers many services for those experiencing or at risk for homelessness — including housing, employment opportunities, health and dental care, social service benefits, legal services and more.
“I’m sure a few people didn’t come because of the crummy weather, but it’s not all about the numbers,” said Jamie Rohe, programs coordinator for the partnership. “It’s about the quality of the services, and I think the services have gotten stronger every year.”
Some of the more popular services included free dental screenings, free eye exams and feet cleaning and care by members of the podiatry program at UNC.
Numerous providers and volunteers helped with this year’s event, including attorneys from Legal Aid and students from the UNC law, nursing and dental schools.
“I really feel like we are helping people who think they have legal problems to get in touch with an attorney at Legal Aid,” said Holly Safi, a UNC law and city and regional planning student.
Other volunteers included members of the Chapel Hill Police Department and students from nearby Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough.
“Of course at first I thought it would be nice to get out of school for the day, but when I started working today that all changed,” said David Brooks, one of the volunteers from Cedar Ridge. “I was really shocked at how many guests were here. It was a little disheartening, but I’m just glad we’re here doing everything we can to help them.”
