Winters in the Northland get cold. For too many of America’s most exceptional people, our veterans who are living on the streets, they are not dressed warmly enough to live in elements nature throws at them, and they need some help.
That’s where the American Legion Post 413 Auxiliary comes in.
The number of homeless veterans in the United States troubles members of Post 413, said Nancy Backlund, and they are doing something to make a difference.
Once again Post 413 Auxiliary is teaming up with Help-A-Vet, a Minneapolis group to deal with the growing numbers of homeless veterans in Minneapolis. Help-A-Vet and The Hands Foundation are working together toward the goal of eradicating the epidemic of homeless veterans in our country.
An immediate goal is to work to help homeless veterans who are not dressed appropriately for the cold winters in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“We are collecting clothing for one day only this year,” said Backlund. “The clothing should be gently used. No holes in it. If boots are donated, they should be in good shape. Remember to respect the people you are giving the clothes to.”
The project began with volunteers giving veterans a quilt designed just for them. Quilts are still accepted, but perhaps more important are donations of warm clothing and cold-weather gear. Help-A-Vet is seeking items such as winter boots and coats, socks, long johns, hooded sweatshirts, new men’s underwear, backpacks, travel-sized toiletries, backpacks and sleeping bags.
If you would like to help Post 413 Legion Auxiliary collect these necessary warm weather items, bring them to Grandma Ray’s (formerly the American Legion lounge) in Grand Marais on Friday, November 10. If you would like more information, please contact Nancy Backlund at (218) 387- 1798.
If you would like to learn more about Help-A-Vet, visit www.HandsFoundation.com.
On any given night it is estimated that 39,471 veterans are homeless. The majority of these people are single men who live in urban areas and who suffer from alcohol/substance abuse, mental illness or co-occurring disorders. Roughly nine percent of these homeless veterans are female. These sobering statistics come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
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