Jarrett Blackwater, 22, didn't realize that when he started working with the AmeriCorps' "Youth in Action" program it would be such an eye-opening experience.

As a senior at Northern Arizona University, he saw mainly university life and had thought of homeless people as people not wanting to work to earn a living.

Then, through his work with AmeriCorps, he saw people, with jobs, not being able to afford rent, losing their places to stay. He saw the effects of tough times.

"My vision of homelessness changed," he said.

Blackwater will be one of a bumper crop of students who will be volunteering at a one-day, one-stop event meant to help the needy and the homeless in the area. The event, called Flagstaff Project Connect, brings together dozens of social service agencies under one roof to guide people in need to appropriate help.

Each time the event has been held since beginning in January 2008, attendance has increased. The economic recession has boosted demand even more.

"I would think we'd have close to 1,000 people this time," said Bill Packard of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

He added that the need for services continues to grow. Requests for food from food banks, for example, are up another 30 percent this year from a 60 percent increase the year before.

"Demand is not slowing down," Packard said.

Outreach volunteers have been going door to door with fliers in some neighborhoods to get the word out about Project Connect, said Wenda Meyer, senior program coordinator for Coconino County Community Services.

Among the services that will be provided at FPC will be:

— Getting identification, birth certificates

— Shelter assistance, move-in assistance, rent and utility assistance

— Legal advice

— Social Security, food stamps, food boxes, clothing, blankets, hygiene products

— Job registration services and referrals

— Health care, dental coverage, HIV testing and counseling, mental health and substance abuse services

— Local bus tickets, haircuts

— Domestic violence help, youth services

Meyer said new agencies have joined the growing roster of service providers to the event. There will be tax assistance, new mental health services and seasonal flu shots as well.

Additionally, people will be able to sign up for "telemedicine" services. Telemedicine is designed to get medical service to outlying communities for people who don't have the ability to travel to where the doctors are, Meyer said.

Blackwater, who has volunteered to guide people in need of services to the appropriate service providers during the event, will be training new volunteers to be guides Saturday.

"As students, we have so many opportunities," Blackwater said. "It makes me appreciate what I have."

Larry Hendricks can be reached at 556-2262 or lhendricks@azdailysun.com.

If you go

What: Flagstaff Project Connect

Where: Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, 3600 N. Fourth St.

When: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Free Mountain Line bus rides. Riders need to tell their driver they are going to or coming from Project Connect.

For more information or to offer to volunteer or to donate funds, goods or services, contact Wenda Meyer at 679-7431, or Bill Packard at 699-7831. A training session for volunteers will begin Saturday at noon and at 5:30 p.m. at the church.