Donation for Homeless Veterans Available Across Maine and at Stand Down Event at Togus on October 29
For Immediate Release
Contact: Glenn Michaels
Telephone: (207) 373-1140 ext.216
Cell Phone: (207) 841-6810
Email: help@voanne.org
BRUNSWICK and TOGUS (October 27 and 29, 2011): Volunteers of America Northern New England and the Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) are making critical supplies available at no cost to homeless veterans and veterans in need across Maine. The donation – a full semi-truckload provided by the DVNF – included 874 cases of blankets, new clothes, underwear, hats, shampoo and body wash, bottled water, canvas bags, and more. The total value of this in-kind donation is estimated at $145,000. These items are in great need, especially as winter approaches.
MEDIA INVITATION: We invite you to join us at the Togus Stand Down on Saturday, October 29th as our volunteers and donors distribute these donated items to homeless veterans. The Stand Down event is made possible across the country by the department of Veterans Affairs. The event, held at Togus, is an opportunity for Maine veterans to meet with many different experts on topics such as medical care, employment, housing, and other support with the goal of becoming independent. Stand Down runs on October 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be a ceremony at 9:00 a.m. to kick-off the event and it will begin winding down by 1:30 p.m. Opportunities for interviews with homeless veterans and participating members of Maine's Congressional Delegation will be available. (A detailed flyer is attached.)
“This is an amazing donation – one of the largest ever made to homeless veterans in Maine,” said June Koegel, President and CEO or Volunteers of America. “The need for these items is great. Coordinating their distribution is a perfect example of our mission to bring groups together to serve those in need. We are grateful to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, our distribution partners and our volunteers for helping to make these items available free to Maine veterans. The future potential for additional donations has us very excited for Maine’s veterans.”
“This project stretched our resources beyond our normal capacities,” said Jacob Roberson with Volunteers of America who arranged for the donation. “Volunteers of America is grateful to our partners North East Mobile Health Services, one of New England's largest and most respected providers of medical transportation services, whose donation made it possible to ship, store and distribute these goods to needed veterans. In addition, reVision heat, a company that helps Mainers transition away from fossil fuels, donated trucks and drivers to make the deliveries possible.” Both are Maine companies.
The donated goods are being shipped to veterans at multiple locations across the state, including the Togus Stand Down event on Oct. 29 in Augusta. Other distribution sites include Volunteers of America’s veterans’ programs, additional veterans’ programs across the state and the VA Maine Healthcare System. Cumberland Self Storage located at 14 Maine Street at Fort Andross in Brunswick donated the storage space needed for the large shipment.
Volunteers of America Northern New England is a national, non-profit, spiritually based organization providing local human service programs and opportunities for individual and community involvement. Volunteers of America is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of affordable housing for low-income seniors, families and persons with disabilities. Additional information is available on our website at www.voanne.org.
The Disabled Veterans National Foundation exists to change the lives of men and women who came home wounded or sick after defending our safety and our freedom. It is headquartered in Washington, DC.
Photograph Caption: Volunteers help sort a major donation from the Disabled Veterans National Foundation that is going to Maine homeless veterans.
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