2nd Annual Save-A-Lot Campaign

Save-A-Lot stores ran a campaign from Thanksgiving through Christmas to help local non-profits and the local residents. Save A Lot customers in Hubbard and Middlefield purchased bags of non-perishable foods to help veterans with their holiday meals. We are so grateful to be able to participate in such a generous action by the entire community.

Last year it was the store out of Middlefield, Ohio and this year the store in Hubbard joined them with the HOLIDAY campaign. Store manager, Laurie from Middlefield, says, “We are glad to do it. Our customers are happy to give back to our service men and women.”

In Middlefield, the biggest part of the shoppers there are the AMISH community and they are happy to share. Hubbard is a very patriotic small town, Americana at its’ finest.

John Ely of Veterans’ Outreach remarked, “I am glad to do the pickups of the hundreds of bags of groceries from these communities, it’s just great to work with the generous residents to make our veterans holidays a little better, a little brighter.

Save-A-Lot has been around for over 40 years and grew to 1,000 locations in small town USA. Ely reflected, “With Hubbard joining our campaign this year…maybe a couple more will hop on board next year! We will just can dream to get all one thousand to help our veterans through the holidays.”

Keeping the Heat On

Today’s Case of the Week comes from our Grayson, KY office. Written by our Regional Manager, Brandon Clark.

A couple weeks ago a veteran approached me to see if Veterans’ Outreach could possibly help his daughter and son-in-law who is a veteran with their electric bill. They had a past due balance of $1291.60, and a disconnect date coming very soon. The veteran said he hated to ask but was worried his daughter and grandchildren would have to go without electric.
After discussing with Bob Julian to see if we had the funds to possibly assist them, I contacted Kentucky Power to see what options were available. After discussing with Kentucky Power, a payment plan could be set up if a $200 payment was made right then and then another $200 to be received in the next 5 business days.

A $200 payment was made at this time by another source and then I advised Kentucky Power that Veterans’ Outreach was pledging the other $200 which they would receive in the next few days.
With the $400 total being paid to Kentucky Power they did not disconnect the power and set the couple up on a payment plan. Were they split the remaining balance up over a 6-month period? Which was roughly $168 a month. We are so happy we could keep the lights on for this veteran family in need.

Home Bound & In Need of Help

Today’s Case of the Week comes from our Kentucky office, written by our Regional Manager, Brandon Clark.
A couple of weeks ago at approximately 9:30 am the phone rings in the Grayson Office, thirty minutes before the office is to open. The veteran on the other end of the phone call states “I am outside in front of your door. I know you don’t open until 10 o’clock, but I need some help.” I immediately went and opened the door and let him come in. I could see that he was anxious & nervous as if we were his last hope. He then explained to me that he was driving from Virginia to his home in Marietta, OH, and was out of funds. The veteran asked if we could help with getting him a hot meal and antifreeze for his car.
I told him I would be happy to help him I just needed to see a copy of his DD-214 or his VA ID. At that moment I could see the demeanor of this veteran change from someone who was anxious & nervous to someone who looked like they had a large burden lifted from his shoulders. Now smiling and in good spirits, he handed me his VA I.D. and his Ohio drivers License. I made a copy of the Veterans ID’s & took some funds out of petty cash. I asked the veteran to follow me to the Love’s fuel station that also had a Wendy’s attached to it. There I was able to purchase antifreeze for this veteran and purchase him a hot meal from Wendy’s. I did not think I was ever going to leave Wendy’s due to this Veteran continually thanking me. We are so happy we could help get this veteran home!

Military Wife Donates Body to Science

Today’s Case of the Week comes from our Sarasota, FL office written by our Event Coordinator, Jan Worrel.
This was a little bit of a different request for our office.  I received a call a couple of weeks ago from a lady that was donating her body to science. With the stipulation that her daughter was to get the ashes and so she could be buried with her husband at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Rhode Island who was a Veteran. She didn’t know who to contact.
While I had her on the phone I looked up a couple of VA numbers that might be able to help. She just called me and told me she had got the information she was looking for and was in the process of making all the arrangements. We are glad she called us for help, even though we weren’t the ones who were able to complete her request. Just an interesting story to share!

Military Wife Donates Body to Science

Today’s Case of the Week comes from our Sarasota, FL office written by our Event Coordinator, Jan Worrel.
This was a little bit of a different request for our office. I received a call a couple of weeks ago from a lady that was donating her body to science. With the stipulation that her daughter was to get the ashes and so she could be buried with her husband at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Rhode Island who was a Veteran. She didn’t know who to contact.
While I had her on the phone I looked up a couple of VA numbers that might be able to help. She just called me and told me she had got the information she was looking for and was in the process of making all the arrangements. We are glad she called us for help, even though we weren’t the ones who were able to complete her request. Just an interesting story to share!

Volunteer & Donor of the Year 2018

Veterans’ Outreach is very thankful for all our volunteers. Their donation of time and undying enthusiasm to help our veterans is unmatched.  They are the true heartbeat of our organization. Without them we could not help thousands of veterans each year. Below you will learn a little about each of our chosen honoree volunteers and how they help Veterans’ Outreach keep on ticking.  We honor and recognize each region’s “Volunteer of the Year” as well as one “Donor of the Year”.

Alabama Volunteer of the Year 2018 – Lukas Johnson

Lukas Johnson is a veteran from the war on terrorism in Afghanistan, he was with the 1307th combat engineering group based in Huntsville Alabama. His duty was to locate and neutralize I E D’ s.  His unit was highly successful and thankfully all came home. He has been instrumental in advertising Veterans’ Outreach in a straight forward, the no-nonsense manner by simply letting people know who we are and what we do for veterans. At a recent place of employment, he helped in the design and sale of military, biblically oriented T-shirts. A portion of the proceeds went directly to Veterans’ Outreach, this was all his idea and the people who bought the T-shirts were all in with the donation to Veterans’ Outreach.  Although he has very little time on his new job, (12-hour swing shift) if asked to help we are sure that he would willingly give of himself.  Lukas is a true patriot and hero, and a great friend to all veterans.

Florida Volunteer of the Year 2018 – Susie Cherry

Susie Cherry, a Florida migrant from Massachusetts where she taught at the high school level and then was data administrator for a college, contacted our Sarasota, FL office to volunteer her services over a year ago.  With her computer skills and eagerness to help veterans, she administers our various databases such as the record of veterans served by date and by the county for statistical support.  Susie is very community oriented – volunteers at the local Literacy Council, teaching English to migrants, participates in Angel Pillows (a group of volunteers stuff, and sew to close, pillows  that are donated to hospices and to homeless that have found at least temporary housing and have no possessions) and other activities, and is very active in her church.  Always interested, always active, she even makes donations to our cause in assisting veterans in need.

Kentucky Volunteer of the Year 2018 – Roger Hanshaw

Roger Hanshaw is an active member of the Olive Hill Senior Community Center and Olive Hill Trail town. In his professional life, he owned a construction company for years. Roger was our Donor of the Year a couple of years ago when he decided to donate his family’s land located near the famous Mushroom Mines in Lawton, KY to Veterans’ Outreach. The land in total is about 118 acres.  We couldn’t be more grateful for the donation and for his continued support of Veterans’ Outreach. The project entitled Heroes’ Passage is intended to help veterans get back on their feet. Roger is not a veteran, but he has always seen it in his heart to help veterans. His father was a WWII veteran and his middle daughter is in the service as a Senior Master Sergeant in the Air National Guard currently. His father acquired the land in 1938, however, the house burnt down in the 60s forcing them to move away. Roger is a known volunteer in his county and has been voted volunteer of the year in his county as well. Not only did Roger donate this land, but he also donates his time. Roger is a warm and generous person and we are incredibly thankful to have him as a lifelong friend and supporter of Veterans’ Outreach.

Ohio Volunteer of the Year 2018 – Ronald Mitchell

Ron is a Navy Veteran that came to know Veterans’ Outreach through our Direct Aid Program.  Ron served with his twin brother and they were entertainers. His background made for good conversation with our Services Director, Bob Julian.  Ron confessed that he spent entirely too much time just “sitting around the house”. Bob suggested that Ron come by the office to volunteer.

Ron started helping out with Heroes’ Closet, our clothing pantry where veterans can browse through and choose clothing for free.  His occasional help has turned into a daily routine. He now helps with our all of our programs and whatever needs come up. Ron has become a big part of our Veterans’ Outreach Family.  His eager, upbeat attitude and joyful nature are contagious. He always has a friendly smile, a story, and a big laugh to offer. On top of all of that, he is a very hard worker. He tells us he is blessed to have the opportunity to get out of the house and spend time here at our Liberty office, but he is wrong – we are all blessed by knowing him.

Donor of the Year 2018 – Clubhouse Brewing Company

About a year ago, we received an email from Zach Dean, owner of the Clubhouse Brewing Company of Warren, Ohio.  “I am both a disabled veteran and a small business owner in Warren, OH. As of 22NOV2017 Clubhouse Brewing Company began operations. It is our goal to give back to the veteran community through a three-pronged approach: first we believe in donating a portion of our profits to veterans’ charities, such as yourselves, in an attempt to help veterans who cannot help themselves, Second we will hire veterans exclusively to help veterans help themselves, and finally we will be starting a veterans charity of our own which will focus on business mentoring and job training in the craft beer industry, to help veterans help each other.

After a careful review of local veterans’ nonprofits’ financial documentation, we have decided to donate to your organization for the year 2018. During the week before Christmas we raffled off merchandise to raise money for veterans’ charities, although it was not a life-changing amount of money, hopefully, it is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Since receiving that email, we have formed a great friendship with Zach and his family.  They have had a great year and have surpassed their goals. They have supported Veterans’ Outreach in many ways with donations, food drives, hygiene drives, service animal supply drives, and so on.  They advertise Veterans’ Outreach with their own business. They do more than we could ever ask! We are so proud to know them, and so humbled by their support and generosity.

God Bless Our Military and the Freedom That They Provide

Today our Case of the Week comes from our Hartselle, AL office, written by our Event Coordinator, Mike Johnson.
Recently we had a veteran who served 3 tours in the Middle East come in because he needed help to buy gas for his car. He told us that he had been having trouble re-integrating into civilian life.
He said that he has had numerous jobs since he has been back and that he has decided to join back up. He stated that he just needed the structure that the army provides. He also said that he would be back to see us in uniform and we hope he does and we wish him the very best of luck.