Attendance at the 14th annual Breakfast on the Plaza and Homeless Services Fair at Bo Diddley Plaza Thursday was higher than ever.
The event, sponsored by the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, featured services for homeless and their pets, including a hot breakfast, health screenings and live music.
City of Gainesville-Alachua County Office on Homelessness director Theresa Lowe said the event’s purpose is to connect the homeless with service providers. She said each year, more providers and homeless people attend.
“It also helps connect folks who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with services that they need to help them either get out of homelessness or prevent it,” she said.
Attendee Jeff Pilgrim said the event gives him hope as a member of the homeless community.
“There ain’t a lot of people that care for other people nowadays, but this brings out humanity,” he said. “It shows humanity ain’t given up on yet.”