Imagine, if you will, giving the best years of your youth to your government, fighting for your life overseas, and seeing friends and enemies die on what seems like a daily basis. When your responsibilities end, you return home to your small midwestern town, only to find out that no one can give you a job - the economy is trashed, they have nothing to offer.
A friend, however, says that he's heard there are jobs in California.
You take the majority of what is left of your savings and your money from the government and buy a pickup that can make it across a few states without breaking down. When you make it out to California with a few hundred dollars to your name, you find you cannot afford a permanent place to live.
Then you find out that no one's willing to give you a job without a permanent address to your name.
Soon, you're living out of the only asset you have to your name - your truck.
It's not long before you have to sell your truck, however, just so you have money for food.
Now, you're one of a growing number in this country: 20-some year old homeless Iraqi veterans.
I heard this story today from a gentleman in Greensboro by the name of Archie, at the Local VFW Hall, which was presenting a scarcely-attended yard sale in order to raise money for an event that is happening at the end of September. I asked Archie how they were doing with fundraising, and he stopped and considered, almost as if he wasn't sure if he should admit the truth. He shook his head slowly, not looking at either my husband or I, and said, "I won't lie. It could be a lot better."
You see, Archie, who works at the local unemployment office in addition to his duties at the VFW Hall, knows firsthand through two facets of his life just how hard our failing economy is hitting the men and women who took years out of their lives to serve this country. The event that he's helping organize is a yearly reach-out between three major cities in North Carolina: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. They rent a sizeable bus, gather up homeless vets in all three cities, and bring them in for services that are desperately needed: dental and health care; mental health and addictions counseing; bathing and barber services; good, hot food; a clean and fresh, well-fitting set of clothes.
This is expensive, he explained. The bus alone costs almost $1000. They rely on donations from local businesses as well as the public to make events like this happen, and the donations (unfortunately) are just not coming in. To make matters worse, a typical event like this would call together approximately 140 veterans from the Triad area.
This year, Archie expects to see almost 250 homeless veterans in need of their care.
Yes, that's almost a 100% increase in the number of our soldiers that this administration is failing.
This Diary Should Never Be Written because it should never need to be written. Our veterans should not be forgotten casualties of rich men's wars.
This is not just a reminder of our obligations to keep our veterans in mind as the economy falters, but it's also a personal plea to help. I have seen $3,000 raised in a day here on this blog for the Obama campaign. I am begging each of you to consider this - an equivalent raised amount can provide transportation, food, clothing, counseling, and health care for almost 250 homeless veterans. You can give them a day of shelter and honest, heartfelt care, warm food and - we all hope - the beginnings of a second chance.
I will be contributing another $50 on top of what I'd contributed earlier today. I truly want to see this event be a success for the VFWs - it is unconscionable to know that good men and women who are desperately trying to assist their fellow veterans are being held back by lack of support from the local community, so I want to reach out to the DKos community because I know that we truly care about the welfare of our soldiers, past and present.
I will be collecting donations through my PayPal account, and delivering it with the names and addresses of each donor (unless you request to remain anonymous) and any message you wish to send to this VFW post. I am also providing the VFW post address, below, if you'd like to send donations for their event.
Send donations directly to the VFW at:
Post 2087, 2605 S. Elm-Eugene St., Greensboro, NC 27406-3622.
My goal between actual pledges and donations is $1500. More, of course, would be even better.
One final note: I would love to see donations go directly to Post 2087, but I cannot find a donations portion of their website, and would need to see checks come directly. I also realize that many of you are likely like myself, and prefer to do financial transactions electronically. I will update this diary with a tally as the day passes.
Thank you in advance.
Update
Thank you to everyone who has put this on the Rec list to get this story out there. So far, I've been notified of $145 privately via email, in addition to those of you who have so generously sent checks directly to post 2087 via mail, and in addition to my contribution of $50. We're roughly at $200. Thank you so very much to each person who has shared their thoughts, shared their stories, and sent this to the Rec list so it can get more visibility.
Update #2
The stories, sentiments, and personal experiences I've been reading here are tremendous. For those of you who may be in the Stockton(ish?) area, please check out the post below by forgore, who knows of a veteran's care advocate by the name of Nadia who is actively trying to help build Veterans' Villages. They are also in great need of help in terms of labor & resources.
Your generosity has raised $510.10 for this effort, and that doesn't include those of you who are donating directly to the Post via mail.
Thank you for your support, your donations, and your stories. Archie and I did not talk politics, although it would be hard to miss my Obama stickers if one was paying attention. I will ensure that he knows - if he doesn't already - that the Progressive community loves and supports our Veterans, and we are more than willing to back that up.
Seriously, y'all. I'm so proud to be a part of this community today.
Update #3
Current pledges to mail donations via USPS (those that provided dollar amounts, that is) combined with the funds I've received via PayPal and my own donation totals $890.10 - again, that doesn't begin to address those of you who have decided to send in checks in the mail directly to the post.
So, thank you - yet again.
This will be my second to last update - I'm going to remove my email address from this post around 9 or 10 tonight, as I'm going to bed, and provide a final tally at that time. I will leave the post's street address for anyone who wishes to contribute after that time. In the meantime, I would like to summarize those Vets links that we've been provided in the posts below, for those of you who wish to continue the good work after today. Please remember that although many of these links are locationally specific, there are veterans' organizations near you that need your time and resources. Some of them just need a strong arm and a good back to help build something better for those coming home to nothing.
Without further ado:
VA Homeless Programs, courtesy of Wayward Wind
Don't You Dare Look Away, and Breaking a Sacred Contract, two diaries by FireCrow
Nadia McCaffrey's Veterans' Village, also mentioned by forgore, who provided Nadia's number: (209) 814-7182 (cell phone)
Patti's Wagons, recommended by bnasley
Jericho - The Veterans Initiative, added by Deoliver47
Vet Center
Finally, Nonie3234 found some informations on the event in this diary, which is apparently a nation-wide push to help homeless veterans:
2008 Stand Downs Planned
Stand Downs are one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to provide services to homeless veterans. Stand Downs are typically one to three day events providing services to homeless veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment. Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless.
The first Stand Down was organized in 1988 by a group of Vietnam veterans in San Diego. Since then, Stand Downs have been used as an effective tool in reaching out to homeless veterans, reaching more than 200,000 veterans and their family members between 1994-2000.
If any of you have more resources, you'd like to add, please see my comment near the top of the diary, "More Resources?" and reply with any information you think would be helpful.
Final Update
Here's today's tally before I head to bed and take some time to appreciate how lucky I am to have a roof over my head, and a comfortable bed to retire in. Thank you to all of you who helped ensure some North Carolina veterans have that opportunity in the future.
PayPal Cash On Hand: 873.48 (includes my donation)
Pledged Mail Donations: 450.00
Total: 1223.48 announced/pledged
Folks, this is outstanding. Thank you a thousand times over. I have removed my email address, but you are still welcome to send donations for the Stand Down for Homeless Veterans event to the address above for Post 2087. The event happens on September 26th, and please consider visiting the Stand Down link above to see if a Stand Down event is being held in your neck of the woods - they need donations and labor alike.
I need a few days for uncleared checks, and will be delivering the donations at the end of this week. I will be sending your love, appreciation, and goodwill along with the cash. If I get a written response from the hall, I will share it here.