Extra Mile Goes a Long Way

Today, we share a “Case of the Week” from our Hartselle AL office.

Last weekend, our “Outreach Program” was at a new fundraising location in Tuscumbia Alabama. The representative was setup with our signage on the table as required, when our guy was approached by a veteran in need. He had some questions, and needed help. The rep took the time to talk to the man and find out his concerns. He then gave the man our phone number and all our information. The veteran called on Monday and needed assistance with food, and Ms. Carol is on top of it. My point is, everyone went the extra mile to help out a veteran. Our “Outreach Program” at the venue did exactly what we hope for, we reached out to a specific veteran right there, right then. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

Lend an Ear to Help a Veteran

Today, we want to share a “Case of the Week” from our Alabama office.

Today, we had a local veteran stop by the office to say hello. He has been getting wave after wave of bad luck. His wife passed away recently from a serious illness. He is trying to sell his house and is getting no takers, will probably face foreclosure, and needs to buy a truck so he can relocate. He himself has had a serious illness that he has beaten.

I believe that he just wanted some company for a while so he could share what was happening in his life. He wasn’t asking for anything but time and an ear or two. We listened and talked for a while and our office manager Carol packed up about a weeks worth of food for him to take to the house. At times you wonder just how much a person can take and what may happen to them, especially if they don’t have someone to listen.

Transportation for a Veteran

Today, we want to share a “Case of the Week” from our Liberty Ohio office.

As background for this case, we remind our readers that our Ohio office helps veterans all across the state of Ohio. Recently, we were contacted through our website by an agency in Dayton Ohio.

The caseworker was trying to help a veteran that had recently moved to that area. He wasn’t eligible for assistance through the local VA agencies as he hadn’t lived there long enough. He had a job, but needed help with transportation to and from work.

We provided him with a 3 month bus pass and gift card for food. The veteran was very grateful, and excited for the new life he was building.

KY Veteran Receives Cool Comfort

Today, we share a very touching “Case of the Week” from our Grayson KY office as told by Regional Manager, Tammy Black.

We were contacted by the daughter of a Veteran. She said that her dad was in bad health and lived in a trailer and had no air conditioner. Only a fan. He has COPD and other breathing issues. After talking with her a while I was able to talk to him as well. He was so humble. He said, “Ma’am, if you could just find me one to borrow I would give it back”. I said absolutely not. It is our honor to give back to you the way you gave to us. We drove over an hour to his local Walmart. He met us there and we were able to give this man an air conditioner. This is what makes our work so fulfilling. He just kept saying thank you. We told him and we want to tell all veterans thank you! Without you, none of us would be living the life we get to live. It truly was an honor.

Grayson Food Pantry Serves 52 Veterans

Today, we want to share an event that helped 52 veterans as our “Case of the Week” that took place at our Grayson KY office. The event was documented by our Regional Manager, Tammy Black.

We had our food giveaway today and were able to give over 52 veterans a full box of food. We had volunteers help them out to their cars with the food. We were able to provide fresh produce, meat, bread, snacks, and non perishable items. It makes us to happy to be able to service this many veterans in one day! One veteran with six children said without Veterans’ Outreach that he wouldn’t be able to feed his family. We say our prayers and always thank God for Veterans’ Outreach at each meal. No Veteran should go hungry!

Veteran Receives “Gift of Sight”

Today, we want to highlight a grateful veteran and his wife. This “Case of the Week” comes from our Liberty OH office as told by Teri Ely, Executive Director.

I met with Bob Julian, our Services Director, to discuss his recent case load. He shared with me a very touching Thank You card that had been mailed to our office.
The veteran could not afford new glasses, unless they used funds that were designated for their utilities and other household expenses. Bob was able to set him up with an eye exam, free glasses, help with fuel, and a tote bag of groceries from our Serve Veterans NOW Food Pantry program, made possible by Wal-mart Foundation. They were so grateful, they sent a card.

Navy Veteran Betrayed by Business Partner

Today we would like to share a “Case of the Week” from our Hartselle AL office as told by Carol Wheeler, our Office Manager.

On Tuesday, the 11th of July, we had a Navy vet stop in who had fallen on hard times. He is a carpenter by trade and he had a partner who was in the landscaping business. The partnership fell apart and the landscaper absconded with all of his tools of the carpenter trade. He had no real way of making a living, he did have a temporary sign on his truck announcing that he was a veteran looking for work.

He had fallen behind on his truck payment and his phone had been turned off. He had no way of contacting his prior customers. He stated that when his ordeal started he weighed over 300 lbs. and was now down to 220. The majority of the weight loss was due to stress and not eating.

I quickly went to our food pantry and filled up a box of groceries, mostly food that did not have to be cooked. He then proceeded to consume various food items right in the office, it was clearly evident that he had not eaten in a while. We also supplied him with tooth brushes and pastes, as well as other toiletry items. We were able to make his truck payment and also donated a little gas money. We then directed him to the HUD/Veterans Affairs to possibly help him with his phone and housing.

Veteran Needs Elder Care

Today, we would like to share a “Case of the Week” from our Sarasota FL Office, as told by Bob Graham, our Regional Manager.

The daughter of a veteran approached Veterans’ Outreach for assistance on the suggestion of the Florida American Legion. Her father is at a point in life whereas he can no longer live on his own. He needs to enter an assisted living unit due to crippling heart disease and diabetes. He suffers these ailments as a result of Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam, and cannot function on his own. His daughter has been helping him but his problems are now such that she can no longer cope, and is trying to put together sufficient resources to help him on his rent – we were the first to quickly commit to assistance.

FIRE VICTIM FINDS SOLACE

We would like to share a “Case of the Week” that really touched one of our volunteers’ hearts from our Liberty office.

FIRE VICTIM FINDS SOLACE

A veteran came to our office after experiencing a devastating fire. He had been completely burned out and had absolutely nothing. He had never been here before, so we were able to set him up with a large tote of groceries that would last a couple of weeks – made possible by a grant from Walmart Foundation. We also were able to help him with clothing, our volunteer in the clothing pantry knew just where to look to find everything he needed.
The veteran was overwhelmed, couldn’t help but cry tears of gratitude.

Lights ON for Army Veteran Wife

This week, we bring you another “Case of the Week” from our Sarasota FL office.

Lights ON for Army Veteran Wife

A wife of an Army veteran, recently widowed, has not received any VA survivor benefit payments to date. The VA is garnishing them for disability “overpayment” to her husband in the past. Not surprisingly, she has fallen behind on her various bills. She has contacted a number of agencies all of whom said they couldn’t help until she was actually evicted from her home(!).

We stepped in on the most urgent, threatened power shutdown, paid the outstanding bill and provided an example to other agencies about assistance before being thrown out on the street.