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Soldiers’ Angels Sacramento VA Community Team Blog
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They Served With Honor So That We May Live With Honor
Highlights of what we accomplished during the month to help our Veterans…
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Blogging has changed some in the six years we've been doing it, but for me the essence remains the same. You read, see, or hear something that offends you and then, after a period of steaming, write what you hope is a pointed but under-control refutation. I’m tired of all the negativity in our lives right now, especially as it applies to the military… so I’m inspired to add my two cents...
Talk is cheap. So is the notion that we can spend one day a year honoring those who have given their lives for our freedom. I wish I had a dollar for every politician or citizen who waxes poetically about how they support the troops, but if you ask them what they have DONE… well, the silence is deafening. I am continually inspired by the motivation of our Angels who participate in local events to raise awareness for veterans' issues and every day help our heroes.
Our Soldiers’ Angels VA Team actually makes a tangible contribution to the lives of our veterans each and every day and I think it’s important to spread some positive news. Here’s just some of the highlights of what we have actually accomplished. I plan to update this list monthly… and I’d love it if each of you would add to the list. Just send me an email and I’ll update it! Let’s tangibly demonstrate how their sacrifice has allowed us to live with honor! |
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May Highlights, 2008
· $700 to Joseph in Stockton to help with food and money until VA checks start · Request for donations to Veterans Village to help pay for food and gas to cover the costs to get Jon to Palo Alto PTSD treatment along with a request for email cards of support to Jon · John at the Gatering Inn—Angels have stepped up to take him to chemo appointments at UC Davis · Started attending Veterans Military Group meetings at Folsom State Prison · Making bus arrangements for 450 vets to attend 7 Giants games in July/August · Planning meetings to launch 2008 Sacramento Paralympic Games · Balance of money raised sent to Joshua Steward · Spoke to the American Sewing Guild who will be donating cool ties for our Baskets of Thanks · Greeted our soldiers and veterans at the 2008 Welcome Home OIF/OEF · Participated in airport welcome homes and memorial services for our heroes · Delivered $11,000 worth of in-kind donations to the VA at Mather · Volunteer 4 hours a week at Mather in Escort services · Worked as a volunteer at the Moving Wall in Stockton May 31 · Helped put out the flags with the Lodi American Legion on Sat May 24 for the Memorial Day ceremony
June Highlights, 2008
· Worked with the American Red Cross to negotiate the ability for a veteran to remain in an apartment complex with the aid of a one-month rent grant and the promise to be a good neighbor · $141 and a Basket of Thanks to Cynthia — to cover transportation for a woman veteran who is from the Sacramento area and moved into the Oakland Operation Dignity homeless program two months ago. She needs help with transportation so she can continue to get mental health and substance abuse treatment at the San Francisco VA, where she's been receiving services for more than a year. She's requesting assistance with purchasing a $20 monthly bus pass and three $9 BART tickets each month for 3 months. That would total $47 each month. She's hoping to have her work situation improved by the end of those 3 months. She works as a home care attendant. She was referred by the VA in Oakland. · $250 to Chandra—a female veteran who needs our help to cover rent so that she doesn’t become homeless. She starts a new job next week. She was referred by the VA at Mather. · Hooked up the Francis House with a donation from Angel Sue of a TV, VCR and lots of movies! · Distributed lunch money and Giants tickets to seven groups of 450 veterans on behalf of Patti Bader’s gift. · $200 to Oakland VA for a 50-year old veteran and his 75-year old mother who are living under a bridge. This money will cover a hotel room for them and food until the VA can pick up payments on July 3rd. · Volunteer 4 hours a week at Mather in Escort services · $500 to Luke, an OEF veteran. When he returned from combat, his wife tried to kill his daughter, so he now has custody of her. He is 80% disabled but due to some hiccups, his VA benefits and rehabilitation has been suspended since February when he came home. The VA is now getting him taken care of and our contribution will help him with bills until the VA comes through in July. We also put out a request for Angels to send him clothes for his 3-year old daughter. · Delivered 14 Baskets of Thanks to veterans participating in the Disabled Veterans USA Far West games.
July 2008 Highlights · Volunteered 4 hours a week at Mather in Escort services · $5,600 in donations to The Gathering Inn for homeless Veterans · Raising $600 to allow 35 homeless Veterans to purchase of copy of their birth certificates to apply for new Section 8 housing in Martinez · Sent 50 Vietnam Vets and members of the Patriot Guard Riders to enjoy a Giants games on 7/2. · More than a dozen Angels responded to our request for legal advice on behalf of two OIF Veterans! We will be following up with our Veterans to see if they get their problems resolved. · Sent a group of 50 Vietnam Veterans and members of the Patriot Guard Riders to a Giants game. · Attended the quarterly VA Volunteer Services board meeting. · Officially launched the Thank You for Your Service 2008 event for Veterans with physical disabilities. · Requested direct assistance for OIF/OEF Veteran, Jonathan, who will be attending Sierra College this fall. · Requested volunteers for 07-31-2008 at 09:00 hr. at 1590 North A street Sacramento, off of 16th Street, there is a homeless camp search/walk, to seek homeless individuals and veterans, to provide on the spot services. · Found free Aid & Attendance Benefit application support for a veteran and his family. · Supplied volunteers to search Sacramento area homeless camps to aid veterans.
August 2008 Highlights · Volunteered 4 hours a week at Mather in Escort services · Supplied volunteers for East Bay Stand Down · Found Jack a place to live in the Sacramento area so that he didn’t become homeless. · Solicited Angel feedback to prepare Darin Selnick, VA Director of Community and Faith Based Initiatives, coming to CA to speak to Care for Returning Veterans on August 18th in Sacramento and August 19th at Moffett. · Provided VA and County contacts and solutions for an elderly veteran who is no longer to take care of his wife who recently suffered a heart attack. He is now getting in-home care. · $140 for a veteran at the House of Dignity (in Oakland) who is working on getting his documentation together to go to Alaska and go on the fishing boats this winter and needed support for a part of this process. The VA had been unsuccessful with other possible resources, so they asked him to write a letter to Soldiers’ Angels to see if we could assist him. His letter is as follows:
· Our Angels identified several wonderful childcare opportunities for a seriously injured veteran that will be going back to school in the fall and is looking for childcare for his 6 m/o son - his fiancée works full time. · Once again, our Angels and the VA identified many solid job options for veteran Kelvin to pursue while he is working with his VSO to find new housing for both he and his children. |
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“Hello, Dear Soldiers’ Angels, My name is Thomas P. Kovacs. My sobriety date is March 4, 2008. I attend Options Recovery Services Monday through Friday and reside at House of Dignity. I was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Boy Scout, high school grad, honorably discharged veteran. Now displaced steelworker. I am trying to end the destructive cycle of under-employment and homelessness. I know I can become gainfully employed, rejoin society, and in return, give back. I have committed myself to going to Alaska to work the fishing boats. It is my sole desire. As globalization erodes jobs and wages, I see this as my way to create my own future. I have taken steps in this direction. In order to secure my Merchant Marine card, I have scheduled my physical through the VA. The Seafarers' Center will provide the drug test that's required. I have to find and would request from you a grant of $140.00 to pay the processing fee. To assure accountability, the check or money order could be made payable to U.S. Coast Guard rather than to me. Thank you for considering this.” |