• By Debbie Mason
• Posted Friday, January 7, 2011

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Point in Time Count

The Point-in-Time Count is a one day, unduplicated count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and families in the county. Participation in the count is required as a part of our receipt of HUD Continuum of Care funding. This funding provides shelter, housing and key services to homeless individuals and families. Each year since 1996 during the last week of January we have participated in this count. The count is a nationwide effort and this year communities across the United States will conduct a Point-in-Time Count on Wednesday, January 26th.

As we meet and count our community’s unsheltered individuals, we would like to provide them with a bag of basic essentials to help them as they attempt survival outdoors. Along with these donated items we include information about area service providers and agencies. We need all donated items by Wednesday, January 19th.

Items Needed

• Sweatshirts (100 in sizes large & extra large)
• Gloves (100)
• Hats (100)
• Socks (100)
• Thermal underwear (100 various sizes Lg, XL, 1X, 2X)
• Toothpaste and tooth brushes(100)
• Chap Stick (100)
• Light weight tote bags (100)
• Canned foods or pre-packaged food (Vienna sausages, fruit, with pop-top lids)
• Small bottles of Lotion (20)
• Kids sweatshirts (20 various sizes)

Volunteers

We need people interested in participating by helping out with the count January 26th. We will count in groups of 5 throughout the city for two shifts, 9pm – 12am and 12am – 2am. Volunteers who are working out on the streets must be 18 years or older.

Volunteer Training will be held January 12th from 6:00 - 7:30 pm at the Bethesda Center for the Homeless located at 930 N. Patterson Avenue, Winston-Salem 27101 Please contact Teri Hairston at teri.hairston@uwforsyth.org or 336-721-9378 if you can help.