People are in need of health services, supplies, and housing in St. Ignace, says Ronda Schlehuber, Housing First coordinator. Project Connect, a program that aims to help the needy get these services, will take place at the Hope Chest store on Ferry Lane Monday, August 31, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Everyone may attend and no registration is necessary.

Services ranging from blood pressure testing, housing aid, and dental exam information will be provided to those in need, Mrs. Schlehuber said. Assembling all of the services into a single area is one of the aims of the project.

"I think the need's growing in this economy. This gives people a chance to get services all in one shot," she said.

Mrs. Schlehuber will be at the event to aid people with finding affordable housing. People can receive help filling out housing applications or obtain rent and security deposit aid. Those in need of rent and deposit assistance must meet certain criteria, such as having a job and being homeless or nearly homeless, to be considered, she said.

Project Connect was held last year in November, but is offered earlier this year to coincide with Project Backpack and the new school year, she said.

Many needy families have children, and with the new school year quickly approaching, August is an appropriate time to offer help. Many services offered during the program will be provided to children.

Project Backpack, which provides children with a backpack full of donated school supplies and clothing, will be at Hope Chest, as well. Mrs. Schlehuber believes this will make it easier for families who signed up for the backpack program to obtain their supplies and then take advantage of Project Connect.

Extra backpacks filled with school supplies will be available for children in kindergarten through grade eight who did not sign up for the program, Mrs. Schlehuber said.

"We know there's still a need out there, and maybe people didn't hear about it," she said.

Children in need can also receive a free back-to-school haircut that will be provided by local hairdressers.

Project Connect aided about 75 people in 2008, Mrs. Schlehuber said. She hopes more people will attend this year. The program is funded through the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness by a $750 grant.

The previous year was very successful, Ronda Engle of the Department of Human resources said. The program achieved its goal of educating the needy about the range of assistance organizations available in the area.

"There were people that said, 'I didn't know we had so many resources,'" Mrs. Engle said.

The goal this year remains the same.

"I hope that it helps them to see what our community has to offer them if they have a need and help relieve the challenge they face when they're getting their children ready for school," she said.

Lunch was provided at the event last year, but this year snacks will be offered instead. Surveys taken last year showed people were more interested in resource information and supplies than the food, Mrs. Engle said.

Project Backpack aided many children, she said, as evidenced by the large number of thank you letters that were received from children and adults.

"The response is overwhelming when you read the notes the children wrote," she said.

Donations, such as adult and children's clothing, household items, and personal care items are still being accepted for Project Connect. Those interested in making a donation should contact Ronda Engle at 643-6115.

The Department of Human Services, Housing First, St. Ignace Area Hope, Mark Mercer Dentistry, MSU Extension, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Lambert Center, Community Action, HOME of Mackinac County, CLM Rental Assistance, and the LMAS Health Department are donors to the project.