Where did you serve and what did you do?
Sacramento, California and the surrounding area. Provide furniture and household goods to formerly homeless veterans placed in housing through HUD-VASH Social Workers.
How are you #StillServing?
We collect donated furniture and household goods, store and repair if required. Then we deliver needed items to the veteran’s new residence, at no cost to the veteran. This is accomplished by veterans volunteering their time, skills and vehicles with minimal financial support from friends or the community. My wife who is now a VFW Auxiliary member and I have been doing this for over 7 years. We are currently paying more than $1000 per month in storage fees.
Why do you do it?
I am a Vietnam Veteran and feel that our government does not provide adequate support for our veterans, especially the homeless veterans. Several years ago, while volunteering at Mather VA Hospital, I saw the need for this service and was encouraged by the Director of Volunteer Services at the VA Hospital to provide this group of veterans furniture they need as they start living in an apartment or home. Our Veterans Furniture Project has grown from there. We not only provide furniture, but also household goods such as dishes, linens, utensils and pots and pans. Volunteer Services refers people who want to donate furniture or other items to the VA to us and we coordinate pickup and delivery to our veterans. We also glean items from garage sales, referrals from other volunteer groups that we interact with and by word-of-mouth through friends, family, and other organizations we belong to.