Agencies come together to aid homeless

Cristian Simescu

Oct. 24, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- ST. CROIX -- While known for the annual Ag Fair and other festivities, on Friday the Agriculture Department fairgrounds became a venue to help a section of the St. Croix community usually overlooked -- the homeless.

More than 120 volunteers came out to help out 128 needy residents during the third annual Project Homeless Connect at the fairgrounds in Estate Lower Love.

Human Services sponsored the event with assistance from the Agriculture Department, the Health Department and various other agencies, nonprofit organizations, churches and the community.

Participating agencies included the United Way St. Thomas-St. John, St. Croix Mission Outreach, The Village -- Virgin Islands Partners in Recovery, Lighthouse Mission, 10,000 Helpers, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands and My Brother's Table, among others.

Human Services Commissioner Chris Finch said the event had three goals -- to connect homeless people with services in a stress-free environment; to build connections between advocates and the social service agencies; and to raise awareness of homelessness and their struggles through getting volunteers involved.

After participants were bused in from around the island, they were met by a volunteer, who escorted them to register and walked them around to stations to check out various services.

The event included hot food, health services such as STD testing, AIDS counseling, flu shots, health screening for blood pressure and diabetes, dental screening, vision screening, drug and alcohol dependency counseling. Participants also received showers, haircuts, Mary Kay skin products for men and women, professional portrait photographs and spiritual care and guidance.

Some participants signed up for food stamps and other services provided by Human Services and received help from Veterans Affairs, Legal Services, Social Security and the V.I. Housing Authority. Identification cards also were available.

Finch said the clients and volunteers came out in record numbers. "It's really wonderful to see the outpouring of community support," Finch said.

Gov. John deJongh Jr. also attended the event.

"I commend Human Services and their partners for what they are doing today," said deJongh. "Helping people is what today is all about."

Lighthouse Mission director Debbie Cullen said she helped organize the spiritual counseling and musical entertainment at the event -- provided by the St. Croix Christian Church, the Southgate Baptist Church and the Island Baptist Church's Burning Chariots.

"It's a great opportunity for our community to come together and reach out to those in need," Cullen said. "The agencies get to know each other and better develop a better working relationship."

St. Croix Christian Church member and professional photographer Kendall Jones volunteered his photo services, setting up lights and a background for portraits. Jones and several other assistants printed two laminated 5-by-7 prints of the portraits and offered to mail them off-island to family or friends.

"It's an opportunity to serve here in the community and do something I enjoy," said Jones. "We see these people every week and it's an opportunity to know them."

Project Homeless Connect was held on St. Thomas on Oct. 16 at the University of The Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center.

- Contact Cristian Simescu at 774-8772 ext. 459 or e-mail simescu@dailynews.vi.

Newstex ID: KRTB-1279-39125994