Eleven acupuncture needles protruded from the neck and knees of Barry Thrift as he sat in a swanky clubhouse overlooking Coors Field on Saturday.
Thrift, who recently lost a job in the catering field, wasn’t at the ballpark to enjoy baseball. Instead, he took advantage of scores of free services offered through Project Homeless Connect 9, an event that provided free medical, legal and other resources for the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless.
“It’s a great thing, and I’m feeling much better,” Thrift said.
Project Homeless Connect 9 is part of Denver’s Road Home, a 10-year city program designed to end homelessness.
On Saturday, 1,000 volunteers helped those in need maneuver through the many booths that offered services from free legal advice, a job fair, vision and diabetes screenings to clothing, food, Colorado identification cards and resources for hundreds of state and local agencies.
Other volunteers included 800 people who were whisked to 42 different sites throughout the city to perform community service, organizers said.
Other event sponsors included Mile High United Way, Concerts for Kids, Comcast Cares, the Colorado Rockies, the Denver Department of Human Services, the University of Denver and Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Families account for 60 percent of Denver’s homeless, according to Robert Thompson, a spokesman for Mile High United Way.
The agency operates a 211 non-emergency telephone number for people seeking assistance.
“Over the last two years we’ve noticed the need increasing,” Thompson said.
The one-day outreach event couldn’t have come at a better time for Pamela Bradshaw after someone stole her purse two days ago.
Homeless and with only $4.50 in her pocket, Bradshaw, a single mother, waited patiently for more than an hour at the Colorado Motor Vehicle Division booth to begin replacing her important documents.
Bradshaw said she was looking forward to shopping for free summer clothes for her children, getting health-services information and visiting the job fair.
“It makes community resources come to one place, and they’re willing to work with my availability,” Bradshaw said.
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
