Homeless Veterans
Several years ago, we became aware of a strange, and troublesome shortcoming in the existing system of caring for veterans transitioning from the streets to facilities provided by the Veterans Administration.
As these men were placed in their new apartments, we learned that they were literally empty apartments!
Imagine a bedroom but no bed— just a blanket and pillow on the floor. A kitchen with all the appliances— but no pots, plates, or utensils. A living room— with no sofa or chairs. A bathroom— with no toilet paper, towels, or shower curtain. This is where our Foundation has tried to step in to help.
Originally, we set up a warehouse and tried to collect donated items for these men. But we soon realized that most of what we received were things probably better taken to the dump. With some creativity we put together a shopping list that allows us to fully stock all the non-furniture essentials, brand new from either Walmart or Target for less than $400 per man.
In addition, we've developed partnerships with hotels to gather furniture that would otherwise be discarded as these units are routinely refreshed over time.
This is still a ministry in process. It's more labor intensive, requires warehousing, and delivery— but the need is real, and the efforts are so important and appreciated.