October 6, 2020, East Orange, NJ: The City of East Orange will launch its first Community Connect Event on Thursday, October 8, 2020 through Saturday, October 10, 2020. The event is designed to provide a three-day, one-stop shop to match residents in need with food, medical check-ups, flu vaccines, laundry services, toiletries and more.
The East Orange Community Connect 2020 event will be held at Halsted Street and Freeway Drive East between 10am-2pm.
The East Orange Community Connect event was conceived and developed based upon an initiative originating in 2004 called Project Homeless Connect in which the City of San Francisco sought to provide resources directly to residents in need. Since the program’s inception, government agencies across the country, from the municipal to state level, have enacted similar programs with much success.
“We have been facing very challenging times, especially during this COVID-19 Pandemic, and we want to make sure that we can connect resources and services to those who need them the most,” said Mayor Ted R. Green. “As a community, it is incumbent upon us to collaborate and coordinate our outreach to provide much–needed support to help our residents overcome their unfortunate circumstances.”
The event will feature the following partnering agencies: Department of Veteran Affairs/Soldier On, Division of Family Assistance and Benefits, Division of Senior Services, East Orange General Hospital, East Orange Police and Fire Divisions, East Orange W.I.C., H.I.V. Division, Lead Hazards and Prevention Division, Nursing Division, Substance Abuse Division, Tender Loving Totes and Vital Statistics.
This free event is open to East Orange residents only. Mobile laundry services will be offered on October 8-10 and detergent will be provided. The clothing boutique, sponsored by the Angel Project and Family Assistance Resource Center, will occur on October 10 from 11am-2pm only. Anyone interested in volunteering can text 973-573-2305 or call 973-266-5480.
Face coverings, temperature checks and social distancing are required.
Details for the East Orange Community Connect 2020 are below:
Who: Department of Health and Human Services and Partnering Agencies
What: Community Connect 2020
When: October 8-10, 2020 between 10am and 2pm
Where: Halsted Street and Freeway Drive East
####