Extra Hands Always Needed at One-Stop Center

Name: Community Coalition on Homlessness

Website: http://cchomeless.com/

What they are all about: The Community Coalition on Homelessness runs the One Stop Center in Bradenton. The Center offers myriad services for the homeless population, including computer access for job searches, help obtaining a Florida Identification, mail services, laundry services, a soup kitchen, showers and dental and medical services.

How to help: “We’re always on the lookout for volunteers,” says Cheryl Hedger, the volunteer coordinator for the Community Coalition on Homelessness. “Every hand helps.”

Every day between 30 and 35 people volunteer at the 17^th Avenue West location.

Hedger says they can use help in the mailroom, the reception desk and computer room. “We’re always looking for dentists, doctors and nurses for our medical and dental program.,” she said.

Some of the volunteers are clients helping other clients. Others are former clients who are returning “to give back,” said Hedger. “There is always a place for a volunteer.”

The facility operates as a one-stop center to assist homeless people, as well as work to keep people in their existing homes and apartments.

The causes of homelessness are broad and varied. Unemployment or a lack of job skills, addiction or mental illness, family disintegration and runaway youth, or medical problems are just a few of the main reasons. Of course the economy and home foreclosures have contributed to the rate of homelessness.

Hedger is starting “volunteer spotlight program,” along with a birthday cake to recognize volunteers during staff meetings. And in April she is planning a volunteer recognition event at the botanical gardens on Manatee Avenue.

“I know the clients appreciate everything the volunteers do, and some of them come back to be volunteers themselves. They certainly understand the importance of being a volunteer,” she said.