The coming week will offer the opportunity to help those in our community who once served our country but now find themselves without a home.
The Men’s Group at First Presbyterian Church has been raising money to help homeless veterans since 2014. “A lot of men in our group are veterans, and we were looking for something to do,” said organizer Ned Kraft.
They started out attending festivals with a booth to help raise awareness of the needs of local veterans and accept donations. They still attend community events, and in 2018 they added a community collection effort with donation jars placed at businesses throughout the county.
Kraft said they have more than 70 businesses participating this year. They will begin placing the collection jars in businesses later this week. Last year the men’s group raised $9,000; since their efforts began in 2014, they’ve raised more than $50,000.
Sept. 4-10 has been designated as Help Homeless Veterans Week in Franklin. A proclamation presented by the Town of Franklin encourages citizens “to support the efforts to help homeless and distressed veterans.”
First Presbyterian Church members will help kick off the week with a congregation lunch on Sunday, Sept. 4 following the morning service. The Men’s Group will have a booth at Fall Market Day on Sept. 3 on Main Street in Franklin and at Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 22.
Helping veterans
The Men’s Group partners with Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), which has a program, Veterans Restorative Quarters, to assist homeless veterans. Kraft said of every dollar raised, 98 cents go directly to helping veterans.
Veterans Restorative Quarters is a 250-bed facility with the mission to create a principle-based environment and a comprehensive residential program that addresses every area of restoration in the life of a veteran experiencing homelessness.
The facility serves about 450 veterans each year and offers 160 beds of transitional housing, 40 beds for emergency shelter and 50 units of permanent supportive housing.
The program focuses on restoration in four areas: 1) stabilization with all the basic life necessities, 2) life skills training, 3) education and professional training certifications that lead to living wage jobs, and 4) reintegration that leads to permanent housing.
ABBCM reports that 8 of 10 veterans leave the facility with a living wage job and permanent housing. Kraft said about 85% of veterans who receive assistance through the program are still employed five years later.
Veterans Restorative Quarters serves only men, but ABCCM also operates Transformation Village, a 100-bed facility for homeless single women, female veterans, and moms with children.
Through Veterans Services of the Carolinas, ABCCM serves veterans in 74 counties through a variety of programs such as outreach to homeless veterans, rehousing and homeless preventing, employment and training support, and service coordination through NC Serves, a statewide program that assists veterans, service members and military families.
To make a donation, look for one of the collection jars at businesses (a jar will be available at The Franklin Press office) or go to First Presbyterian Church, and they can put you in touch with Kraft.
To learn more about Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, visit abccm.org.