On Wednesday, December 16, 2015 a few members visited the Veterans’ Place in Northfield, VT. Clarence, UMV’s treasurer made a motion at our last monthly meeting that we should make a donation during the holidays. The Veterans’ Place was suggested and all present agreed.
We first heard of the Veterans’ Place last summer when they asked if they could sell raffle tickets at the Annual Toy Run, we were glad to have them.
So on Wednesday Holly (president), Clarence (treasurer) and Joe (sgt. at arms) got the checkbook, some donated items and some home-baked goodies and went for a visit.
We were greeted by Karen Boyce (Administrative Manager/Case Manager), Phil Rowell (Facilities Manager/Case Manager), several residents and Patch the dog.
From the Veterans’ Place Website…
“Our purpose is to help Vermont’s Homeless Veterans by providing desperately needed resources in an all-in-one locale so these Veterans may regain their PRIDE, reach their full potential, and once again become contributing members of society.”
“The Veterans’ Place is a transitional housing facility combined with assistive services for Homeless Veterans in Central Vermont. Our goal is to help Homeless Veterans transition from the homeless population. We have more than twenty-five other dedicated partners helping us.”
United Motorcyclists of Vermont is dedicated to motorcycle safety, education, awareness, pro-motorcyclists legislation and individual freedom. Helping our Vets is an important part of supporting individual freedom. Our veterans have made sacrifices to protect our country, and world. There will always be aggression in the world and our Vets stood ready to defend our lives and liberty.
Supporting our troops and Vets is something that each and every one of us should do.
Karen Boyce, the administrative manager told us how some of the vets are overwhelmed during the holidays by the outpouring of donations and good will at Christmas. Maybe we could be a little more like Scrooge, after his reformation, and try to keep the spirit of Christmas in our hearts all the year?
Some of us have discussed this before and I would like to see if we can set up donation boxes at our meeting locations: the VFW in Hyde Park and the American Legion in Orleans to collect non-perishable food and other items that the Veteran’s place could really use. We can collect those items at our regular meetings, or more often if necessary, and get them to the vets.
Photos from our visit…
