Volunteer of the Year 2019

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 Veterans’ Outreach is very thankful for all volunteers. Their donation of time and 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 2019

Shawn Cobb

Shawn Cobb is a mechanic that specializes in farm equipment repair.  He attends the Break Through Ministry for Christ church next to us and actually lived nearby for several years.  This church has often done great things for us that have enhanced our ability to help veterans.

Shawn takes care of our summer landscape needs by mowing and trimming.  This past April, we had a very strong storm whip through our area that took down a very large tree in our yard.  Shawn headed up the group that cut and removed the tree and all of the debris associated with the storm damage.  When they were done, you couldn’t even tell that a tree had fallen.

Shawn’s longstanding eagerness to help is comforting and appreciated more than we can say.

 

 

Florida Volunteer of the Year 2019

Al Lerman

Al Lerman has been helping out in our Sarasota FL office for a while now.  He is a WWII veteran.  He served as a “Dogface” in the European Theatre.  He received two Purple Hearts during this time.  A bomb went off on the other side of the haystack he was using as shelter and fragments came through and got him in the back.  He received the second one when he was in a structure in a German village that was bombed and shrapnel got him.

In spite of the injuries Al sustained while fighting for our country, he didn’t let that stop him from living the American dream.  He married, had children, and ran his own business marketing sportswear.  Later, he and his wife ran a summer camp for children in Maine with 400 children.

He continues to give of himself by volunteering at Veterans’ Outreach.

 

Kentucky Volunteer of the Year 2019

Chris Hansen

Chris Hansen is a retired postal carrier.  Chris is a cancer survivor and he gives the credit to God that he is still here to serve and he serves with a smile.  He loves to help out in any way that he can throughout our building.  He helps with keeping our offices neat and clean.  He also organizes donations for our Daily Food Pantry Program and the Heroes’ Closet Program that serve our local veterans.  He runs errands, picks up donations, just anything that comes up – he stands ready.

Chris is a selfless friend to all, there are no strangers to Chris.

 

 

Ohio Volunteer of the Year 2019

Cosetta McMillan

Cosetta McMillan, also fondly known as CoCo, entered our lives earlier this year with the idea of volunteering for a few hours for just one week during the summer.  She is an Americorps Reading Tutor, so off during the summer months.  That one week rolled into her volunteering the whole summer.

She came to us with the most willing spirit to do anything that needed done from folding brochures to scrubbing walls.  CoCo was inspirational to the rest of us through her upbeat, “get it done” kind of attitude.  She helped hundreds of veterans in her short few months here.

CoCo made a lasting impression on all of us, we are better for knowing her.

 

 

Donor of the Year 2019

North Alabama Veterans Services

Our Regional Manager, Bob Wheeler had a HUGE surprise when Jane Dow visited our office. Jane formerly headed up North Alabama Veterans in Huntsville Alabama. This organization coordinated services to assist with federal, state and local agencies to help with housing assistance for veterans.

Our Office Manager, Carol Wheeler worked with Jane on many veterans cases. Recently, this fine organization closed its doors after 10 years of service to our veterans. After they cleared their books, they had some funding left.   Jane showed up at Veterans’ Outreach of Alabama to donate a very generous check of over $20,000!  We are humbled and so grateful. The funds will be used to help more veterans in Alabama.

Thank you, Jane, for the recognition and the confidence that the funds will be well used to better the lives of our military men and women.  God Bless You.

SURPISE VISITOR BRINGS CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR MANY VETERANS

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Our Regional Manager, Bob Wheeler had a HUGE surprise when Jane Dow visited our office. Jane formerly headed up North Alabama Veterans in Huntsville Alabama. This organization coordinated services to assist with federal, state and local agencies to help with housing assistance for veterans. Our Office Manager, Carol Wheeler worked with Jane on many veterans cases. Recently, this fine organization closed its doors after 10 years of service to our veterans. After they cleared their books, they had some funding left. That’s when Jane showed up at Veterans’ Outreach of Alabama to donate a very generous check. We are humbled and so grateful. The funds will be used to help more veterans in Alabama.

Thank you, Jane, for the recognition and the confidence that the funds will be well used to better the lives of our military men and women.

Homeless Veteran’s Makeover Success!

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Today, we would like to share a “Case of the Week” from our corporate office located in Liberty Township, north of Youngstown Ohio.

Homeless Veteran’s Makeover Success!

A homeless veteran was referred to us by a Job and Family Services Caseworker.  The Caseworker had been able to help the veteran with housing and was now seeking employment.  The problem was that the veteran had been homeless and his personal grooming and clothing had become tattered.

We were so excited to be able to help this veteran with a good shave and hair cut.  Our Heroes’ Closet Program helped him with several articles of like-new clothing including a suit that fit him perfectly and pair of Bostonian shoes to go with it.

The Caseworker called us after he saw the “new” appearance and couldn’t have been more pleased.  Having that makeover improved the veteran’s self-concept and he walked with his shoulders back and head up into the interview.

Disabled Veteran Gains Independent Mobility

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Today, we would like to share a “Case of the Week” from our corporate office located in Liberty Township, north of Youngstown Ohio.

Disabled Veteran Gains Independent Mobility

A very generous person donated a street-worthy motorized wheelchair.  It sat in our Services Director’s office for a few weeks, waiting until just the right veteran came along that really needed it.  A local Caseworker came by to get help with a veterans’ case and while he was here, he noticed the chair.  He mentioned that he often saw a disabled veteran running around town on an old style wheelchair that had no power.  We were able to contact that veteran.

He came by and took a look at the chair and was so elated.  He was able to get his church to pick up the chair with their lift van.  He now has full use of it to get around and be independent.  What is that worth!!

 

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Local Pilot Club Flies High for Veterans

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Today, we would like to share a “Case of the Week” that includes a special visit from local supporters that visited our Hartselle Alabama office

Local Pilot Club Flies High for Veterans

The Decatur Alabama Pilot Club is an organization that hosts events such as golf tournaments and raffles to raise money for local veterans charities. In turn, they make donations.  We at Veterans’ Outreach feel very appreciative that they chose us to benefit this year and we thank them.

When they arrived, they brought a large amount of groceries for our food pantry.  They also brought blankets and pet food that we need. We have found that some veterans in need will have very little, but some of them will have pets that they love and trust. They also made a cash contribution that we can put to good use. I have to say that their visit was much appreciated and really boosted our spirits here in the office. Great organization, Great ladies.  Thanks.

Misguided Mindset Takes a Turn in the Right Direction

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Today, we would like to share a “Case of the Week” from our corporate office located in Liberty Township, north of Youngstown Ohio.

Misguided Mindset Takes a Turn in the Right Direction

A veteran and his wife came to our office for the first time, they had heard of us through a mutual connection at our local food bank.  They met with Bob, our Services Director and were troubled by the many health problems.  Bob talked with him, discovered that he had never reached out to the VA for help or even gone to doctors for his health concerns.  They are avid Christians that believe in healing straight from God and not using modern doctors.

Bob explained to them that he really needed to get registered with the VA to learn what benefits are available to him for his service to our country.  Then Bob very delicately discussed the health problems.  He explained that we all believe in God’s power and might, but we also know that God helps those who help themselves.  Doctors are given to us to help us.  He used this analogy:  If your vehicle breaks down on the highway, are you going to wait for God to get you out of there or are you going to call a tow truck?  The veteran answered that he’d call a tow truck, and then understood what Bob was trying to tell him.

Bob made the veteran an appointment with the Veterans Service Commission to pursue benefits.  They made an appointment to sign up for utility help.  They left Veterans’ Outreach with new direction, new hope, couple of bags of food, gas card, and an additional food gift card.