September 20, 2019 Issue

Page 2—Seniors Today—September 20, 2019
Home Is Where The Heart Is…
Join us for a tour.
You
Name It
…by Kitty Maiden
There are so many veteran
groups and organizations in
our area that contribute to the
well-being of our veterans.
A couple of years ago, a Stand Down
was begun to assist the homeless veterans
in our area. The Stand Down is
a one-day event involving community
leaders who offer their services and area
veterans organizations, churches, etc.
help by making donations of food and
needed supplies.
Efforts have been made to locate a
place for the homeless to live on the
East Coast of Florida.
Recently, in conversation with a
lady who sings with Company G, I
learned that her son, who visited this
summer, lives in New England and is
responsible for a home devoted to
helping give homeless veterans the
help they need in all facets of life. The
non-profit organization behind it is
called Veterans, Inc. and covers several
New England states. It is devoted
to providing free room and board to
homeless veterans for a year. While
there, they eat well, sleep well, and
are helped to find a job and turn their
lives around. It has to be very rewarding
to help the homeless find their way.
From the History of how it all began:
“In 1990, a small ‘band of brothers,’
Vietnam veterans, alarmed at seeing
their fellow veterans living in alleys
and under bridges, incorporated Veterans,
Inc. (then the Central Massachusetts
Shelter for Homeless Veterans).
In October 1991, the group received
the keys to the historic Massachusetts
National Guard Armory from the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts with a contract
to lease the building for a dollar
per year. Abandoned for about 12 years,
the building had been condemned and
was slated for demolition. In four months,
the veterans collected $17,000 in cash
donations, and with the help of volunteers,
including labor unions, completed
$250,000 worth of renovations. As the
first years passed, Veterans, Inc. repaired
the building a little at a time. Most of
the work was performed by the residents
and volunteers. An estimated $6
million in volunteer and donated services
has been invested over the past
24 years to rescue the historic building
and expand services for veterans.
In 1993, Lt. Colonel Vincent J. Perrone
was named president of the organization,
a position he still holds today.”
Colonel Perrone recruited two lifelong
friends and they took the fledgling
organization from $100,000 in debt
to operating in the black in less than a
year. They expanded the agency’s focus
to include veterans of all eras.
“There are over 2,100 communitybased
homeless veteran service providers
across the country and many
other homeless assistance programs that
have demonstrated impressive success
reaching homeless veterans. These groups
are most successful when they work in
collaboration with federal, state, and
local government agencies; other homeless
providers; and veteran service organizations.
Veterans who participate in
these programs have a higher chance
of becoming tax-paying, productive
citizens again.”
Quotes from: Veterans, Inc. website
and National Coalition for Homeless
Veterans website
Kitty Maiden is a staff writer for
Seniors Today.
New Smyrna
BEADS
AND SUPPLIES
Glass • Chrystal • Gemstones • Jewelry
The Holidays are coming!
Monday: 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.
Tuesday to Friday: 11 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Saturday: NOON to 5 P.M.
400 Eleanore Ave.
New Smyrna Beach
(Next to Stavros Pizza)
386.409.3133
Ask for Connie