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Volunteers, items needed for local homeless count

JANESVILLE — Organizers of an upcoming homeless count are seeking care package items and volunteer help.

Each year, the Rock County Homeless Intervention Task Force conducts two 24-hour counts of the homeless population in Rock County. The next count starts at 11 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at ECHO, 65 S. High St., and ends at 4 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31.

The intent is to reach out to the homeless in Rock County and provide them emergency shelter, said Jessica Schafer-Locher, ECHO client advocate and office manager.

Information gathered during the count is used for reports that affect funding that Rock County receives each year to provide services to the homeless, she said in a news release.

The count will include the homeless and those living in emergency shelters, transitional housing or domestic violence shelters. It also includes those who are unsheltered and living on the streets or any other place not meant for human habitation, Schafer-Locher said.

Among the items being sought for care packages are can openers, bottled water, bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, toilet tissue, deodorant, tampons, extra large zip-close bags, combs, blankets, flashlights, batteries, matches, rain coats, plastic utensils, hats, bus tokens, scarves, insect repellent, multivitamins, hearty soup, nutrition bars, trail mix, adhesive bandages, stocking cap, gloves/mittens, warm socks, fingernail trimmer, safety pins and phone cards.