Jamestown (Cassie DuBray) – South Central Homeless Coalition Collected and Packaged over 400 Blessing Bags, on Wednesday.

 The South Central Homeless Coalition representing North Dakota’s Region VI, partnered with Jamestown Ministerial Association, Triumph Inc, and Edgewood Senior Living to assemble “Blessing Bags” of donated essential care items for people experiencing homelessness and or other hardships.

This third annual event established “Mercy Box” locations where individuals and organizations donated travel sized personal care items such as facial tissues, wet wipes, nail clippers, lip balm, hygiene products, nonperishable snacks, socks, small first aid kits, and feminine hygiene products. The South Central Homeless Coalition received donations from individuals and organizations.

Members of the Homeless Coalition board, Edgewood Senior Living staff and residents, Triumph Inc. staff and clients, and Region VI community members assembled 436 blessing bags on April 11, 2018. Many thanks to the community for the donations and for all the volunteers who helped with the assembling.

Blessing bags will be shared with various organizations within Region VI such as South Central Human Service Center, Community Action, Freedom Resources, James River Correctional Center, Veteran Services, local churches, and Public Schools for distribution to individuals who are experiencing homelessness or extreme need.

The need to actively care for people experiencing homelessness is growing. Per the annual Point in Time Survey in January 2017, there were 1,089 persons documented as experiencing homelessness with 178 being under the age of 18.  There were 331 out of that total which were considered unsheltered.

The purpose of the South Central Homeless Coalition’s purpose shall be to advocate, coordinate, and optimize services for homeless men, women and children within Region 6 of the South Central Human Service Center. For more information contact coalition President Pastor Susan Haukaas at Trinity Lutheran Church (701) 252-2841.