The City of Knoxville, Knox County and Remote Area Medical are seeking volunteers to help make an annual one-day event aimed at helping people get off the streets and into housing a success.

 Project Homeless Connect, a day-long event designed to connect homeless individuals with the resources that can lead them to housing and self-sufficiency, is set for Friday, Dec. 7, from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Knoxville Convention and Exhibition Center.

The program brings together the entire community - ranging from individual volunteers to government agencies to faith-based and medical providers and others who offer homeless assistance - and the people they serve under the same roof at the same time.

The goal is not so much to feed and clothe people but to connect folks living on the street with the resources - like medical and social services and even housing resources - which can help get them off the streets.But to make that happen the city and Remote Area Medical need a lot of help.

Last year more than 450 volunteers took part in the event - part of the Knoxville/Knox County Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness - that was attended by more than 500 homeless individuals.

The organizers in particular need help from dentists and others in the health care occupations but volunteers from all walks of life are needed to help with everything from greeting people and directing them where to go to gathering information.

Remote Area Medical will provide all the setup and materials needed for dental and medical practitioners.

For more information about Project Homeless Connect, or to volunteer, please call Mike Dunthorn, project manager for the Knoxville/Knox County Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, at 215-3103.