Non-Profits Team Up to Help Homeless Vets

Santa Cruz, CA – VFW post # 10110 is doing its best to provide comprehensive services to Homeless Veterans. They got a boost this week from another non-profit group – the Goodwill Auxiliary.  VFW is coordinating efforts to provide housing and jobs for returning veterans.  So the Goodwill volunteer group gifted more than $1,000 worth of Vouchers good for the purchase of merchandise in Goodwill stores.

The big picture is that VFW helps coordinate the efforts of two other non-profits – The county of Santa Cruz Veteran’s Advocate group and the Twenty-First Century Vet group, together who  provide housing, tents and other living supplies plus food and personal items to veterans.
While these are based upon existing programs, there is also a certain amount of cash required to activate the programs.  The VFW works to provide these funds.

To provide close coordination and the best benefits to vets, volunteers from all these agencies meet weekly at the 90 day homeless facility at Emeline

The Goodwill Auxiliary donation will allow veterans who receive the benefits of the other programs to shop at Goodwill to obtain such items as clothing to wear to job interviews and household items for new living quarters. The Goodwill Auxiliary is a group of volunteers whose main interest is operating the Collectors Corner at the downtown Goodwill store. They are currently looking to add more volunteers to their group.