Monday, January 21, 2013

Volunteers Organize for Homeless Veterans

Volunteers from AmeriCorps Alums CT, AmeriCorps VISTA and U.S. military Veterans worked together on a volunteer service project to provide welcome baskets for Veterans who were formerly homeless and are newly housed.

The team of 14 people created 32 baskets and organized household items, some of which had been donated at previous events like the Crazy Sweater Party / Donation Drive at Luck and Levity a week ago [article].

Each basket contained a number of vital household items such as dish soap, dish ware, towels, toiletries, bedsheets, pillows, shower curtains, cleaning supplies, light bulbs and many of the bare essentials these Veterans would need for their new life inside their own home.

During the event, the inauguration of President Obama played on the radio.  And we also had a discussion about an excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "Drum Major Instinct" sermon, highlighting personal definitions of "service" for the betterment of society as a whole.

For more information about future service events, in the case that you would like to volunteer or donate to help homeless Veterans, follow the AmeriCorps Alums CT page on Facebook.

Links:

AmeriCorps Alums CT Site
AmeriCorps Alums Facebook Page

Luck and Levity Article
Martin Luther King Speech



Support provided by Target, WalMart, Home Depot, Knights of ColumbusHomeGoods,  and the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund