Volunteers will be fanning out across Riverbank on Thursday, Jan. 24, participating in the annual homeless count for Stanislaus County.

The city is partnering with the county to document how many homeless individuals are in the Riverbank community. The effort will compile information to help provide and fund future programs to assist the homeless here in the city, according to officials.

They say the volunteers are visiting many of the locations around town where homeless people are known to sleep and frequent. Each person counted will receive a small comfort care package.

Volunteers will begin counting at 7:30 a.m. and officials will take drop-in visits by the homeless at City Hall North, 6707 Third St., Suite B, until 3:30 p.m.