Community members, local organizations and service partners will have an opportunity to gather later this month as PATH holds its next General Meeting in Grants Pass, bringing together people working on homelessness, food insecurity and other community needs throughout Josephine County.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Grants Pass City Council Chambers. The formal meeting will run from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., followed by a half hour of networking through 5:00 p.m. Organizers are encouraging residents, community partners and others interested in local homelessness issues to attend and participate.
PATH plans to provide an update on its current activities and ongoing efforts within the community. Representatives from several community partner organizations are also expected to share information about their work, giving those in attendance a broader look at programs, services and initiatives currently operating in the area.
A central portion of the August meeting will focus on common myths and misconceptions surrounding homelessness. Organizers plan to conduct a round robin discussion designed to examine those misconceptions and explore practical ways community members and organizations can provide accurate information about homelessness. Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas and experiences to the discussion, with an emphasis on identifying ways different organizations and individuals can support one another’s efforts.
The meeting will also provide an opportunity for participants to learn more about ways they can become involved locally. PATH is encouraging attendees to invite family members, friends, colleagues and others who may be interested in learning about community programs or contributing their time and resources to efforts addressing homelessness.
Food insecurity will also be part of the community effort surrounding the meeting. A donation box will be available for attendees who would like to contribute nonperishable food items to the Josephine County Food Bank. Donations collected during the meeting will be directed to the food bank to help support its work providing food assistance within the county.
The networking period following the formal meeting is intended to give participants additional time to connect with community partners, exchange information and learn about opportunities for collaboration. Bringing service providers, volunteers and residents into the same setting can also help participants better understand what resources are currently available and where additional community involvement may be useful.
PATH will not hold its regular General Meeting in September. Organizers are instead planning to direct their attention and support toward the Recovery Fair taking place on the same day the September meeting otherwise would have been held. The General Meeting schedule is expected to resume following that break.
The August 25 gathering is open to those interested in learning more about PATH, hearing directly from community partners and becoming involved in local efforts addressing homelessness and related community needs.