Serve Veterans NOW Food Pantry helps Veteran/in /by

Today, our “Case of the Week” comes from our Liberty OH office.

A veteran had been referred to us from the VA Clinic right up the street from our office. He served in Vietnam in the Navy. He said he was what would be called a Navy Seal today. He went on many missions that even today he is forbidden to talk about. During his time, he was sprayed with Agent Orange.

Last year he got a call from the VA in DC to question him about his service in Vietnam and any health issues he was having. They advised him to go to the nearest VA to get checked out. He went, found several health concerns, applied for service related disability and was denied! They told him they couldn’t find his records, they were burned in a fire.

He was very distraught. Our office listened to him, helped him with our Serve Veterans NOW Food Pantry tote of groceries as well as guidance on how to proceed with his claim. He was very thankful and said it made a real difference “to know that someone out there cares about us veterans”. The grant from Walmart for the grocery totes has touched another veteran with some real help to get through the day and the days ahead.

Clearwater Veteran’s Thank You/in /by

This week, we bring you another “Case of the Week” from our Sarasota Florida office as told by Bob Graham, our Regional Manager.

After spending a lot of money on medical issues, this Clearwater veteran was advised by his case manager to contact us on his overdue electric bill, which he was unable to cover. He was about to go into the VA hospital for surgery which worried him (his VA psychologist says that he has PTSD, “generalized anxiety disorder and Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia”) as he might be returning home with no lights available. I guaranteed the payment to Duke Energy and it was promptly paid, with assistance from a local Sarasota resident who wanted to help as well. The vet says “you’ll never know how much you helped out when I really needed it!”

A Visitor’s Donation to a Local Veteran/in /by

This week, our “Case of the Week” comes from our Sarasota office. Regional Manager Bob Graham wants to share something that happened just last week at their office.

He wrote: This is a little different this time as it is not about a vet we helped but an interesting story I think. Our Sarasota office is next to a medical services place with erratic hours. Last week a woman came to our office to ask what I knew about the hours (not much!). She saw the “Veterans Outreach” on our door and asked what we did for veterans. I explained our non-profit status and our efforts in assisting veterans unable to meet their financial obligations. The phone rang with another veteran asking for our help and I invited her to listen so she really “got it.” The vet had a “past due notice” from Duke Energy and we can cover most of it within our usual limits but the full amount would be over it. I told the veteran what we could do and he was tremendously grateful but my visitor asked how much we were short of the full amount and wrote out a check on the spot to cover the gap, promising to return monthly whenever possible to make further donations!

Our Liberty Ohio IT Specialist/in /by

This week, we have a “Case of the Week” from our Liberty Ohio office. We have known this veteran for many years, he has helped us with our IT needs, often for free. He has a wife and family, and he works as an IT Specialist. He has been wanting to get a certification in PLC Programming so that he would have greater employment opportunities. However, he hasn’t been able to manage it financially. He came to Bob, our Services Director, and discussed the problem. Bob was able to use his contacts and wrote letters to help this veteran get accepted at the training facility, with most of the costs covered by grants Bob helped to locate. The veteran is very grateful, as you can imagine.

Inspirational Story of a Local Volunteer/in /by

This week, our Hartselle Alabama would like to share an inspirational story with you.

A local volunteer, Connie Cobb, took it upon herself to organize a food drive for the veterans that we serve. She worked with a neighboring church called Breakthrough Church. Through their efforts, they collected 19 bags of non-perishable foods. The office is just elated to receive the generous gifts. The foods will be donated to veterans in need.

Thanks to our neighbors in the community, we are able to care for those that served us and have protected our way of life.

A Big Part of Our Grayson Team/in /by

This week, we want to share a “Case of the Week” from our Grayson, KY office as told  by our Regional Director, Tammy Black.

A veterans’ wife came into the Grayson Office and needed assistance. They were having issues with her husband’s disability compensation from the VA.  They had propane heat, but had run out of propane.  The young children were sleeping in the living room where they had electric heaters.  They couldn’t even play in their bedrooms. She explained that he had been given the run around by so many veterans’ agencies that he refused to come inside with her.

I assured her that we WOULD do something. I went out and spoke with him at the truck and told him how thankful we were for his service.  I explained what we do and that we would do our best to help them in this hard time.  He said thank you, but I could tell he was hesitant.  With help from Habitat for Humanity, we were able to fill up their propane and we also paid on their upcoming electric bill.

The sweet little girl hugged me and thanked me for getting us heat. It was one of those moments that reminds you why you do what you do.  In the office, we took it a step further and adopted the family for Christmas.  We bought toys and clothing for the children, others donated as well.

Now, the whole family volunteers in our office and helps us give away food to other veterans in need through our food pantry.  This family has become a big part of our Grayson team all because of that one day that they needed a little help.  It is an honor to give back to someone who gave such sacrifices so that we could do this job that we do so freely.

A Grateful Veteran/in /by

This week , we want to share a heart-warming “Case of the Week” from our Liberty OH office.  

A veteran came in to get help with groceries and bus passes.  He particularly needed the bus passes because he needed to get to the VA Clinic for medical concerns.  As Service Director Bob talked with the veteran, he asked him how he was feeling today.  The veteran said he wasn’t really feeling very well, that he had been losing blood and was getting very concerned.

As they talked, Bob decided that he would help this veteran a little more than we usually do.  He gave him a gift card for groceries, some bus passes, and a ride in his own car to the nearest VA medical facility.  The veteran was very grateful for the urgent care attention.

Passionate Veteran/in /by

Today, we would like to highlight a “Case of the Week” from our corporate office in Liberty OH.

Last week, a veteran came into our waiting room with such passion and exhilaration that he could hardly stay in a chair.  As he waited to see Services Director Bob, he told everyone in the waiting room that Bob had saved his life over and over.  He exclaimed that he had stopped by, not for help but to thank us, because we had already helped him so much.

A few weeks earlier he had come by to get help with food and bus passes.  He was very upset because a doctor had told him he would probably have to amputate his leg due to an infection that would not heal and was spreading.  Bob told him to ask for a referral to the Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion.  He did that, he went to the Cleveland Clinic and they were able to heal the wound.  He wanted to thank Bob and all of  Veterans’ Outreach for what we had done for him.  He was able to walk about because of the help we had given him, otherwise he would have been in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Heartwarming Young Girl/in /by

Today, we would like to share a “Case of the Week” from our Hartselle Alabama, office, it is more of a story, but you will enjoy.

A very young lady came into our office, she must have been around 11 years old.  She was concerned about veterans that don’t have enough to eat and she wanted to donate some food.  She had a bag with her and pulled out C-Rations that she had gathered, and said in a very sweet and caring tone that she wanted a veteran who had little to eat to have it.  Heartwarming to have that kind of mindset at such a young age – wonder what direction her life will take – odds are she will be involved with serving her country in some way.
Hartselle Gentleman Needing Help/in /by

Today, we have a “Case of the Week” from our Hartselle Alabama office as told by Bob Wheeler, our Regional Manager there.

A veteran, a real gentleman came in this past week. Although he didn’t want to ask for help, he was really down and out and in need of a meal.  Our pantry was full, we were able to box up a generous supply of groceries immediately.  We also helped him fill out paper work for some assistance with his most immediate financial problems.