Year in Impact: Project Homeless Connect
In a first for United Way and for the community, more than 100 homeless families joined us in August to connect with resources and services to help them get back on their feet – from back to school backpacks and supplies for the kids, to financial checkups for parents, and dental screenings and haircuts for all.
Throughout the day each family was paired with a United Way volunteer to help them navigate the many services and resources laid out across the sprawling Reggie Lewis Track Center in Roxbury. They got to know each other, many of them smiling and joking along the way like old friends.
It was a true community effort. Companies like TJMaxx, Enterprise, UPS, Whole Foods and more helped with resume writing and job services. The BU School of Dental Medicine provided free dental screenings, which had a line all day long. Mass Eye and Ear provided eye exams. And dozens of community agencies were on hand to connect people with local resources and conduct financial checkups. Even the food was a group effort, with items donated from more than a dozen local providers so that families could have a meal while they were there.