Rick Gunn/Nevada Appeal Sean Griffin, center, from the Community Chest in Storey County listens to a speaker discuss homelessness and hunger during a coalition meeting at the First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday. The group is trying to make the public more aware of youth hunger and homelessness in the area.
A new Carson City coalition aimed at preventing hunger and homelessness for children and families remains in its formative stages, although members decided Tuesday to work toward communication and seamlessness among their groups.
Present were representatives from the Mentor Center, Health Smart, the Community Council on Youth, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, the First United Methodist Church of Carson City, the First Presbyterian Church, the Community Chest of Storey County and a University of Nevada, Reno woman working on her master's degree in social work and also the organizer, Elizabeth Dorway. Her husband, Alan, is the pastor of the Presbyterian church.
"How can we mobilize people?" she asked of those present at the Presbyterian church. "How can we get people to work together for their services to be seamless?"
The group identified organizations within the community that already provide services to the homeless and hungry such as Friends in Serving Helping, Children in Transition and the Community Council on Youth.
"We all need to sit at the table," said Ruth Gordon of the Mentor Center. "We don't need to start a new FISH. What we need to do is work together."
They also talked about awareness of the homeless problem in Carson City, a problem many don't think exists because they don't see it. None of those present had an estimate of Carson City's homeless. That's when Maryellen Waltz, executive director of Health Smart, said that Jan. 27 is the point-in-count day, when volunteers throughout the city will work to count the number of homeless people.
"The sheriff's department is on board and will be doing aerial photography," she said. "We will also be going to hotels."
She is looking for volunteers to train for the count day. She also said that the organization is looking to create a shelter for the homeless and mentally ill in Carson City.
"There aren't really a lot of places for homeless people to go," she said. "There's none actually."
The next meeting occurs 12:30 p.m., Feb. 9 at the Presbyterian Church at 306 W. Musser St.
Dorway invited anyone interested in attending to come.
"We want more people to come and people who are experiencing hunger and homelessness as well," she said.
Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.
YOU CAN HELP
What: Volunteers are needed to help with count of Carson City homeless
When: Count day is Jan. 27, training date to be announced
Call: Maryellen Waltz, executive director of Health Smart, at 885-1728
WHAT'S NEXT
The new Carson City coalition aimed at preventing hunger and homelessness for children and families will meet again at 12:30 p.m., Feb. 9 at First Presbyterian Church, 306 W. Musser St.
WHO'S INVOLVED
The Mentor Center, Health Smart, the Community Council on Youth, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, the First United Methodist Church of Carson City, the First Presbyterian Church, the Community Chest of Storey County and group organizer, Elizabeth Dorway.