“May I see your ID, please?”

This is a question we hear when checking into a hotel, going to the hospital or even to the grocery store.

Most people who are homeless in our community don’t have identification.

I remember when my wife and I were getting married we had to have ID for everything. Getting a marriage license, Social Security cards, etc., we had to identify ourselves.

How do the homeless identify themselves? The homeless can’t find jobs without an ID. In fact, no one can.

It costs about $46.28 for the necessary paperwork to help restore one person’s identity. Thankfully, the Seminole Action Coalition Serving Our Needy (SACSON) is providing a layer of services that is not being offered anywhere else in our community.

It is SACSON’s hope that every homeless person in Sanford get identification. This group of community volunteers meets twice a month to discuss issues of homelessness. Having enough funds to help the homeless acquire their identity can be very expensive.

Trace Trylko, who leads the SACSON group, has started a fund-raising campaign called the $46.28 fundraising project. It is SACSON’s goal to have an IDignity event every quarter.

It will cost about $7,000 to purchase 150 IDs for our needy citizens. The IDignity events help people gain identification so that they can get employment, obtain access to most shelters, open a bank account, cash a check or get an apartment. Having ID is a part of being self-sufficient.

Because of the efforts of SACSON’s IDignity event, a resident living at Rescue Outreach Mission was able to gain employment. This resident was able to get his “dignity” back.

By now you might have noticed that I am a true advocate of our community’s most vulnerable citizens. Many people in our community want to help but they don’t know how. I invite you to contact me. I am passionate about helping people who are in need.

It is SACSON’s goal to have an IDignity event this spring, but they cannot do it without your help.

Whether you’re a member of a church, civic group or club, you can make a difference. Please open your heart and give so that SACSON can help our needy.

To find out how to get involved with IDignity, come to the SACSON meeting on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Sanford.

Ernest Hamilton is executive director for Rescue Outreach Mission of Sanford. Comments can be sent to him at ehamilton@rescueoutreachmission.org or Herald publisher Gene Kruckemyer at GKruckemyer@MySanfordHerald.com. Topics for The Sanford Herald’s Centennial Forum opinion series are chosen by the community writers.