FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. The elements of the joint city-county meeting in Fresno, California last week were filled with "firsts" in the progress toward a City of Fresno-Fresno County commitment. Congressman Jim Costa, who represents the area, welcomed partners including Fresno Mayor Alan Autry to the joint session of the Fresno City Council and Fresno County Board of Supervisors. Representative Costa, who had sought out the partnership of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in 2006 to foster the jurisdictional commitment to a plan, introduced Council Director Philip Mangano, invited to keynote the event at the Cornerstone Conference Center.

While in joint session, elected jurisdictional representatives unanimously voted to adopt two identical motions that commit the City and County to develop a 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness over the next several months.

"Mayor Autry and Supervisor Waterston offered communities across our country a vision of how cities and counties can work together to partner on behalf of our homeless neighbors," indicated Council Director Mangano. "And Congressman Costa demonstrated Congressional leadership and support for local efforts."

Featured on the partners' program was Carissa Phelps, who had experienced homelessness in Fresno as a child. After a stay in juvenile hall, where she benefited from a counselor who helped her, she went on to graduate from UCLA last spring with both a law degree and an MBA. She has become a spokesperson on youth who are homeless for Virgin Mobile's RE*Generation campaign and recently appeared on "Good Morning America."

Taking part in the joint session were Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, Congressman Jim Costa, Blong Xiong, Acting Council President and Councilmember, and Councilmembers Brian Calhoun, Cynthia Sterling, Larry Westerlund, Mike Dages, Jerry Duncan, Council President Henry T. Perea, and County Board of Supervisors Members Phil Larson, Chairman Bob Waterston, Susan Anderson, and Vice Chairman Henry Perea, as well as County Administrative Officer Bart Bohn, and Mayor's Chief of Staff Georgeanne White.

Prior to the joint meeting, Director Mangano met with Mayor Autry, Councilmember Sterling, Councilmember Westerlund, Acting President Blong Xiong, Fresno CoC Coordinator Pam Kallsen (also of the Marjoree Mason Center), Allysun Williams of Fresno State, Chris Rosander, District Director for Rep. Costa, and Mayor's Chief of Staff Georgeanne White to discuss the National Partnership being constellated by the Council. Director Mangano was also joined by Larry Arce of the Fresno Rescue Mission and Jim Connell of the Poverello House. Council Regional Coordinator Eduardo Cabrera also participated in the visit.

LAST WEEK, across the nation in 25 cities and counties of every size, more than 10,000 homeless neighbors were welcomed into "the living room of the community" by more than 4,000 elected officials and community volunteers seeking to make resources more available and accessible to end homelessness, during the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness' Third Annual National Project Homeless Connect Week.

With this issue, the e-news continues its coast to coast coverage of the 2007 National Project Homeless Connect Week. We'll continue coverage over the next several issues to bring you the highlights, best practices, and results in partner communities this year. In this story, we focus on highlights from around the nation and follow with stories that focus on new partnerships and resources at this year's events, and a focus on the work of PHC volunteers.

From Nashua, New Hampshire to Los Angeles, from Morristown, New Jersey to Oakland, California, elected officials and community volunteers last week extended a "welcome" to their homeless neighbors at events in 25 cities during the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness' Third Annual National Project Homeless Connect Week.

IN SAN JOSE, Council Director Philip Mangano last week joined San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed at the city's Convention Center for San Jose's fifth PHC event with Santa Clara County. Mayor Reed, a Charter Signatory to the America's Road Home Statement, joined Director Mangano at a mid-day rally and results update for PHC volunteers and guests. San Jose Housing Director Leslye Krutko, who participates in California Keys, the partnership of the state's 10-Year Plan cities, introduced Director Mangano. San Jose City Councilmembers Nora Campos, Pierluigi Oliveiro, and Judy Chirco also attended the event, as did PHC Project Manager Fernando Cazares. As noted last week, San Jose and Santa Clara County have utilized Americorps volunteers to build their event, and the volunteers were on site for the day. Regional Coordinator Eduardo Cabrera also participated.

San Jose's event was marked by an extensive outreach effort, and Mayor Reed noted the need for engagement in his remarks. "The goal of the event is to reach out and make connections with the homeless people who are not currently taking advantage of all the services available in the city and the county," Mayor Reed said. "We have to do an extensive outreach effort to make sure that happens; it's been a success, and we know it works." Mayor Reed is pictured here with Director Mangano at the event.

San Jose's Mission Community College provided volunteers who visited outdoor locations including bridges, rivers, railroad tracks, and other locations to make the PHC known to potential guests. Read "Words of the Week" in this e-news for the story of one volunteer's extraordinary birthday experience of volunteering at the San Jose PHC event.

Just after the PHC event, Santa Clara County announced major changes in the UPLIFT transit pass program that reaches persons who are homeless, more than doubling the number of people who will be served by the program. Lack of transportation was named as a key barrier faced by individuals in accessing and keeping employment. Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) offers over 700 monthly reduced-fare bus passes to homeless clients, and the new program will offer 1,850. The UPLIFT program requires clients to receive services and meet each month with their case managers to ensure that they are taking accessing all services for which they are eligible.

WITH this issue, the e-news continues its coverage of the momentum building among Mayors and County officials who are Charter Signatories to the unprecedented 12-point America's Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions to end chronic homelessness, bringing the signers to a total of 53.

"This week, Mayor Autry of Fresno became the 50th elected official to become a Charter Signatory to the America's Road Home Principles," indicated United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "To him and all of the other elected officials, we appreciate their participation in expanding the partnership of communities ending homelessness in our country."

Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez, who this week hosted Project Homeless Connect, became a signatory, with three other Connecticut Mayors partnered with the Council. Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano, who this week joined Council Director Mangano for the unveiling of a new 10-Year Plan, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who last week addressed volunteers at Danbury's PHC, and Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy are new signatories.

Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, who committed last week to develop a 10-Year Plan with Fresno County (see related e-news story) signed the America's Road Home Statement following the Plan announcement. Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal also signed, joining Santa Barbara Mayor Marty Blum who signed at the Denver Summit.

Hennepin County, Minnesota Commissioner Gail Dorfman, signed last week. Commissioner Dorfman is a long-time champion of efforts to assist homeless people and is currently partnered with Mayor and Charter Signatory R.T. Rybak in Minneapolis and Hennepin County's 10-Year Plan and Project Homeless Connect.

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden, became the first Louisiana Mayor to sign. Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy, whose city hosted its first Project Homeless Connect this month, became a signatory. In Western Massachusetts, Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins signed on.

Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, who last month hosted Council Director Mangano at his 10-Year Plan meeting, became the first Kansas Mayor to sign.

At the November Denver press conference announcing the signing of the Statement, participating Mayors declared their intent to promote America's Road Home with their fellow Mayors and County officials. The Statement has been made available to other Mayors and County officials to sign. Mayors and County officials who are interested in becoming partners to the agreement can download the Principles and guidelines for signing at the Council's web site at www.usich.gov. A current list of the Charter Signatories is also posted.

The Summit was convened by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano, and Melville Charitable Trust President Robert Hohler. The Summit was supported by Fannie Mae.

SAN FRANCISCO SUPPORTS FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND REUNIFICATION WITH PHONE BANK. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. It's called the "quiet success story" of the City's PHC history: a Sprint- Nextel phone bank that "connects" guests to family and friends with whom they have lost touch. Reunification opportunities were part of the City's 10- Year Plan, and in an upcoming e-news, we'll look at how San Francisco and other cities have helped restore family connections as a Plan goal.

Modern means of communication are one gap closed by the phone bank, but another San Francisco example shows that personal visits also matter. Persons who are homeless in San Francisco received another source of encouragement to take part in Project Homeless Connect: a pair of local probation officers who developed a strategy to visit their probationers on the streets made sure to mention the upcoming event and urge their clients to visit and access resources. We'll look at these mobile officers, their strategy, and some of their counterparts in other cities in an upcoming issue.

USING THE AIRWAYS TO MOBILIZE CIVIC WILL. Spreading the word on Project Homeless Connect offers long-term opportunities to build community awareness and participation. In Lincoln County, Oregon, where an inaugural PHC was convened last month, kickoff events - including webcast remarks from United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano - are playing on local cable access television.

JURISDICTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP SHOW COMMITMENT TO PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT. IN LOS ANGELES, four sites hosted Project Homeless Connect events last week. Council Director Philip Mangano (pictured here) visited the Skid Row rally site, where City and County officials were also present. Miriam Long, Deputy to Supervisors' Chair Yvonne Burke introduced Director Mangano. Leslie Wise, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's point person on homelessness, also attended the event, as did Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Executive Director Rebecca Isaacs, Michael Castillo, County CEO's Office PHC Coordinator, Garrison Smith, County Homeless Coordinator, Kathy House, County CEO's Office, and Louisa Ollague, Deputy to Supervisor Gloria Molina.

Former Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Zev Yaroslavsky issued a Proclamation for the day, which directed the County Departments of Public Social Services, Mental Health, Public Health, including Alcohol and Drug Program Administration, Internal Services, Public Defender, Probation, the Sheriff, and the Los Angeles County Police to participate in the event, and to work with the Chief Executive Office to ensure effective coordination for the event. All County departments were directed to encourage their staffs to volunteer on the day of the event and accommodate reasonable requests for personal leave by County staff that choose to volunteer, and the County's Chief Executive Officer was to coordinate with County departments regarding deployment of County staff who will work in both an official and voluntary capacity at the event. Director Mangano is pictured here with Miriam Long, Deputy to Chair of the Board of Supervisors Yvonne Burke, Garrison Smith, County Homeless Coordinator, and LAPD Officers taking part.

FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP WITH PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT. IN NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, partnership from government was in evidence, as United States Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director and current Regional Federal Interagency Council Chair Brian Golden attended the Nashua event. This was his third PHC, as he previously visited Springfield, MA and Manchester, NH. While in Nashua, Director Golden also had the had the opportunity to tour Buckingham Place, a VA Grant and Per Diem program for homeless veterans opened by Harbor Homes earlier this year. He also met with Nashua Mayor-elect Donnalee Lozeau.

AUGUSTA, MAINE. In Maine this week, the Statewide Homeless Council convened at the John Marvin Tower at Chateau Cushnoc to review progress in updating Maine's Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, first written in 2002. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano was invited to brief the Council on results from the National Partnership constellated by the Council. The State Council is chaired by Nancy Fritz and Dale McCormick, Director of Maine State Housing.

Director Mangano described for the state partners the expansive National Partnership that they have joined through their strategic initiatives in the state, noting also the role of former Maine Housing Director Michael DeVos, now Director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (see related e-news story).

Director Mangano is pictured here at the Council meeting where he thanked members for their recent work in releasing new cost benefit analysis on chronic homelessness in Maine. Maine's new cost study used actual costs for every participant, rather than extrapolating or estimating numbers. Most important findings for Maine included that housing people who are homeless cuts the average costs of services they consume in half. After being housed the 99 people in the study received 35% more mental health services at 41% less cost, and there were significant reductions in emergency room and psychiatric inpatient care, ambulance transportation costs, police contact costs, and incarceration costs. The next phase of this study, which expands throughout the state, will be complete in the late spring 2008.

Maine's Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness, a revised and amended plan, is expected in early 2008 and is expected to have the support of a wide variety of stakeholders, including the regional homeless councils, veterans' groups, domestic violence projects, consumer advocates, homeless youth service providers, and state agencies.

The Council convened a Discharge Planning Work Group, consisting of mental health agencies, homeless service providers, representatives of hospitals, and state Health and Human Services. This group is developing recommendations on best practices so that individuals are not discharged from hospital settings to homeless shelters.

Additionally, Council Chair Nancy Fritz has been facilitating a series of Veterans' Stakeholder Meetings convened by MaineHousing, with the goal of strengthening communication about services available to homeless veterans as well as to strategize about how to maximize federal funding opportunities for serving this population. Participants have included Togus VA, Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services, American Legion, U.S. Department of Labor, Disabled American Veterans, the VFW, several homeless shelter service providers, and the Governor's office.

In addition to the Council meeting, Director Mangano and Regional Coordinator John O'Brien met with City and Town Managers from Kennebec County, including City and Town Managers from Augusta, Gardner, Oakland, Winslow, and Winthrop.

Meeting participants are pictured here with Director Mangano (left to right): Cornell Knight, Winthrop Town Manager, Director Mangano, Mary Bartlett, City of Augusta Health and Welfare Director, Bill Bridgeo, Augusta City Manager, Steve Dyer, Oakland City Manager, Linda Fossa, Waterville Welfare Director, and Ann Davis, Acting City Manager of Gardner.

Project Homeless Connect is marked by best practices in ensuring consumer choice, immediacy of access, and results. All were apparent in events across the country last week, where local partners broke new ground in their offerings and their partnerships. The e-news highlights a few examples from the Third National Project Homeless Connect Week here.

FRATERNAL ORDER STEPS FORWARD IN PARTNERSHIP; PHC OFFERS BANKING SERVICES. DANBURY, CONNECTICUT'S inaugural event was hosted by the United Way and the local Elks Club, and held at the Elks' facility. The Lions' Club was also a partner, offering eye exams. Special engagement strategies reached out to Spanish-speaking guests. Pictured here are (left to right): Mark J. Nolan, Chair, Danbury Housing Partnership, USICH Regional Coordinator John O'Brien, Danbury Mayor Boughton, Milena Sangut, Co-Chair, Greater Danbury Continuum of Care, The Honorable Dianne E. Yamin, Danbury Judge of Probate, Chair, Mayor's Taskforce to End Homelessness, and Thomas A. Kirk, Jr., PhD, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Danbury's Washington Mutual Bank, which sends bank representatives on a regular basis to help shelter guests, was at the Danbury PHC helping attendees sign up for no- fee checking accounts.

SHEPHERDS WELCOME GUESTS; ORLANDO USES REGIONAL PHC EVENTS TO BUILD WELCOME; FIRE DEPARTMENT "CONNECTS" FOR HEALTH. IN ORLANDO FLORIDA, which hosted its event on December 7, results were expanded over prior PHC events: over 925 homeless guests were welcomed, compared to 600 at the prior event. Nearly every guest was assigned a "shepherd" to assist them with resources.

Orlando's first PHC was followed by four regional events over the summer, each designed to reach those living unsheltered in camps and other locations. The series was followed by a briefing for City Council. In East Orange County, a June PHC at University Presbyterian Church welcomed 70 guest, and, in Seminole County the same month, Sanford Civic Center welcomed over 265 guests. In July, West Orange County's Central Florida Fairgrounds was the PHC site, which hosted over 230 guests. Also in July, Osceola Christian Ministry Center in Osceola County saw over 250 guests at its PHC event. Over 40 agencies and 36 congregations took part in these events. Over 80% of those who accessed resources were not previously in the HMIS system.

At the Orlando PHC, paramedics from the Orlando Fire Department staffed a medical station to check blood pressure and blood sugar for guests as one component of health services available.

SAN FRANCISCO INTEGRATES CITYWIDE FINANCIAL INITIATIVE WITH PHC. IN SAN FRANCISCO, which hosted its 19th PHC, Wells Fargo was on site to offer consumer- centric banking services to the "unbanked." Mainstream financial services and access are an important element of a trajectory out of homelessness, and Wells Fargo was on hand to help as part of the City's "Bank on San Francisco" initiative to extend mainstream financial services that safeguard resources and avoid check-cashing and other fees.

GIFT CARDS, MUSIC, AND PUBLIC FOCUS MARK NJ PHC. IN MORRISTOWN, NJ, the Project Homeless Connect kicked off on the Morristown Green, where a Freeholders' Proclamation (read here by Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom) designated the day as Project Homeless Connect Day. NJ Senate President Richard Codey and NJ Senator-elect Joe Pennacchio made remarks, and Council Regional Coordinator Samuel Miller welcomed partners to the event at St. Peter's Episcopal Church which included over 100 guests. Joanne Bjornson, Executive Director of the Interfaith Council for Homeless Families of Morris County, was the key PHC organizer. Music was provided for the launch, with $3,000 in Wal-Mart gift cards, $1,500 in bus passes, $1,000 in laundry cards, messenger bags filled personal care items, as well as quality of life services.

Morristown and Morris County partners included: Boonton Housing Authority, Church of the Redeemer, Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown, Daily Record, Dover Housing Authority, Eric Johnson House, Family Service of Morris County, Homeless Solutions, Inc., Hope House, Interfaith Council for Homeless Families, Jersey Battered Women's Service, Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, Madison Housing Authority, Market Street Mission, Mental Health Association of Morris County, Inc., Monarch Housing, Morris County Department of Human Services, Morris County Division of Community Development, Morris County Employment and Training Services, Morris County Office of Health Management, Morris County Office of Temporary Assistance, Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs, Morristown Health Office, Morristown Housing Authority, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown Parking Authority, Morristown Police Department, NewBridge Services, Saint Clare's Hospital, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program, Social Security Administration, Trinity Lutheran Soup Kitchen, United Way of Morris County, USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, The Women's Center at CCM, and Zufall Health Center/ Dover Community Clinic.

WITH THIS ISSUE, the e-news continues its focus on what is working around the country to end homelessness. Last week, we reported on 10-Year Plan progress in North Dakota, where state leadership and financial incentives are supporting the development of local jurisdictional 10-Year Plans, which have emerged in Fargo, Minot, and Jamestown. In this issue, we feature other important initiatives from states in providing planning and seed resources to support 10-Year Plans and encourage the development of Project Homeless Connect events.

WASHINGTON STATE ANNOUNCES SECOND ROUND OF AWARDS FOR 10-YEAR PLAN INVESTMENTS IN COUNTIES FOR HOUSING. OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON. Washington State announced this week its second round of awards to ten counties with 10-Year Plans to end homelessness who will share in $15.8 million for housing, services and other support. Counties with plans were eligible for the resources which emanate from county recording fees on building-related documents and which are returned by the state to the counties for initiatives related to 10-Year Plan goals. State officials encouraged counties to demonstrate new partnerships with local government, the criminal justice systems and mainstream programs.

Clark County will receive the largest award - $3.3 million - for initiatives targeted to 450 individuals and related to closing encampments and provide housing and services. King County will use $1.6 million to develop housing for 50 chronically homeless people, doubling its current pilot program. Another 50 formerly homeless people will move to more independent housing.

The State's Homeless Housing and Assistance Act passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2005 established a goal of reducing homelessness in the state by 50% by July 2015 and provided new resources through a $10 document recording fee to support the development and implementation of local jurisdictional 10-Year Plans. In late 2006 the Department of Community, Trade and Transportation announced nearly $11 million in state Homeless Grant Assistance Program (HGAP) awards to help fund model projects and programs in nine counties implementing 10-Year Plans for a three-year project term. Of the $10.9 million awarded, over $7 million was generated from the state share of the document fee and $3 million is being made available from HOME funds to support capital funding of rental projects.

The Washington State Homeless Grant Assistance Program is intended to support projects consistent with the state and local 10-Year Plans that will meaningfully reduce homelessness; demonstrate government cost savings over time; employ evidence- based or promising approaches; are replicable; could be sustained after the HGAP funding ends using criminal justice, social services, health or other system resources; and include strong performance measurements.

STATEWIDE MICHIGAN CAMPAIGN INVESTS IN 10-YEAR PLANS AND PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT. IN MICHIGAN, in 2006, the State of Michigan joined the National Partnership of results-oriented, performance- based, jurisdictionally-led, and community-based 10- Year Planning efforts encouraged by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Sixty new 10- Year Plans to End Homelessness - covering all of Michigan's 83 counties - were unveiled at a State Summit. The State of Michigan, with a 2006 population of just over 10 million people and 83 counties across the state, encouraged the development of these plans statewide by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) which provided initial planning grants to help communities develop their 10- Year Plans.

Governor Jennifer Granholm (pictured here), in her 2006 Summit statement, encouraged all citizens in the state to endorse the Vision Statement of the Michigan Campaign and to pledge personal involvement in the effort to end homelessness. The Vision Statement sets a goal of ending homelessness and commits to use the best data, provide the best technical assistance and training, continually search the country for the best evidence based practices, secure and maintain extraordinary commitments at the local, regional and state levels, and regularly measure progress.

Michigan State Housing Development Authority is joined in its statewide 10-Year Plan partnership and investment initiatives by the Michigan Departments of Corrections, Community Health, and Human Services which are working to advance collaborative statewide initiatives by their agencies, as well as plans to revamp the state's approach to homelessness in support of ending homelessness.

To support communities which completed their 10- Year Plans to End Homelessness, MSHDA released a funding round - Campaign to End Homelessness Housing Initiatives 2006-2007 - that made $14.5 million available for housing related investments for targeted populations: Chronically Homeless, Homeless Survivors of Domestic Violence, Homeless Youth (including youth aging out of foster care), and Homeless Families with Children.

More than a dozen recent Project Homeless Connect events in Michigan were some of the first fruits of Michigan's commitment to adopt innovations that support 10-Year Plans, and more than that number of PHC events are now scheduled for coming months. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority offered $1000 seed grants through the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH) to help support county PHC efforts. Technical assistance was provided by MCAH, the Corporation for Supportive Housing, and the U.S. Interagency Council.

IN THIS E-NEWS STORY, we offer a first-person account by San Jose volunteer Deb Colden who thought spending the day of her birthday at Project Homeless Connect last week would be a good experience for her. Deb Colden describes the many giving hands she encountered before she ever arrived at the event, and calls her experience perhaps her "best birthday" ever. She graciously agreed to share her account here.

"I had the most remarkable experience tonight . . . I decided to volunteer at San Jose's Project Homeless Connect tomorrow. I figured this would be a good way to spend my birthday. This is my first time volunteering for this event, which brings about 300 volunteers and numerous agencies under one roof to provide a day of 'one-stop shop' services for homeless people.

"I went to the orientation today and learned the program is expecting over 500 homeless or 'unhoused' guests to participate. Before I left the orientation, I asked if there was anything special that was needed. I had been planning to get some toiletries and socks. I was told that they had enough new socks, but unfortunately didn't have a lot of shoes. They asked the volunteers to donate any good condition shoes, if they had them.

"So I decided I'd do a little shopping. I went to Big Lots and bought a bunch of toothbrushes and toothpaste, but there were no shoes. So I trucked over to Kohl's Department store across the street thinking I could probably buy at least several pairs of shoes on sale there.

"Now usually I am reluctant to ask for help but I figured, hey, it's for charity, maybe a manager would help me. So I asked to see the manager, showed her the poster for the event and said I was hoping to buy as many shoes as I could and gave her a budget.

"The manager, suggested that I open a charge account because in that way Kohl's could help by discounting the shoes 20%, and she would give me a discount on top of that. Then she asked one of the employees to go with me to locate clearance shoes which would be heavily discounted already. The clerk, a woman named Thuy, spent a ton of time with me in the back room, scanning shoes and finding the best bargains. I think she was due for her break, but she stayed with me until we had found 18 pairs of shoes that I could afford. She spoke in heavily accented English and told me she is Vietnamese and that, although her family didn't have a lot of money, they always made sure that they gave some to those who were less fortunate. I told her that was what she was helping me do by stretching the budget so well.

"So, we hauled those 18 boxes of shoes out of the back room on a big cart, and then she went to get the manager, who had specifically requested we call her when I was ready to check out. While I waiting, several customers came by thinking the shoes were a display. I politely explained that I was buying all the shoes for a charity program, so they were not for sale. One man came by and commented on the good price (clearance) and asked if there were any more. I told him he would need to check with one of the staff.

"While I was waiting, another woman at the cash register offered to set up my Kohl's credit account which I needed for the discount. As I went through the process, I told her that the shoes were for homeless people. She was really pleased about the donation. She and her daughter had also been homeless for a year. She said it was the hardest thing she'd ever lived through and then someone just called her and offered her a place to live. I got teary- eyed listening to her.

"Then the manager arrived and we started ringing up the 18 pairs of shoes. At this point, the customer who had commented about the 'good price' came over to check out his purchases, and on the spot, his family decided they wanted to buy $50 worth of shoes for me to take.

"I was stunned. The manager and clerk and I just stood there with our mouths open. Thuy went to the back room with the man's wife and sister to help them find clearance shoes to buy for me. We had so many shoes to process at the register that two other staff members came to help us remove the security tags and ring everything up. The man's wife and sister returned with their shoes for me. And when I thanked them, they thanked me!

"In the end, I had 26 pairs of shoes, and these wonderful people who were complete strangers to me helped make it all happen."

email: ichnews@setechnology.com

web: http://www.usich.gov