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2,000 SF Homeless Assisted Through 'Real Change' Program at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— 2,000 among San Francisco's homeless population walked out of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in slightly better shape on Wednesday because of a new program called "The Real Change".

Project Homeless Connect (PHC) launched the program that asks people to take their spare change and donate to their organization to buy things homeless people need like glasses, clothes and shoes.

Kara Zordel, who heads PHC, said the program helps in a myriad of ways and even contributes to providing shelter, food, medical supplies and substance abuse counseling as well as mental health programs.

KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:

One man in line at the Civic Center location named Eduardo was suffering from a broken molar. With his hand cupped to his face he explained that it had been not days, but months that his tooth had been broken.

"Coming here and volunteering, you are the change," Zordel said. "Being involved in your community; that's creating change. But now we're asking you to give us your change. Everyday people walk by someone and they give a quarter or a dollar, but we're wondering does that really make extraordinary life change?"

The thousands of homeless were greeted by volunteers and were given confidence boosters such as free haircuts and received new socks.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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