Tent City meeting scheduled

10/5/2009

1Matters Tent City, formerly the Homeless Awareness Project Tent City, is asking volunteers to attend an organizational meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the local American Red Cross headquarters, 3100 West Central Ave.

Created in 1989, Tent City will turn 20 when it is held Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at Civic Center Mall downtown. Organizers said the need is great this year because of high unemployment and foreclosures.

Winter coats, hats, gloves, sweatshirts, boots, socks, and backpacks can be dropped off through the end of October at all Toledo and many suburban fire stations, including those in Perrysburg, Perrysburg Township, Maumee, Rossford, Oregon, Monclova, Springfield Township, Lake Township, and Sylvania Township. Many churches, schools, and businesses are sponsoring clothing drives as well.

In addition to distributing clothes, Tent City will provide services such as medical and dental care on Oct. 31 through Project Homeless Connect. Tent City is sponsored by Cherry Street Mission Ministries, the Mildred Bayer Clinic for the Homeless, Mercy Health Partners, Toledo Area Ministries, the Toledo Area Alliance to End Homelessness, and the city of Toledo.

For more information, go to 1matters.org.