JoAnn Haberer
Okay, admit it. You have way more stuff than you need. You probably even have way more stuff than you want. So how about setting time aside to go through your winter clothing (both men’s and women’s) and finding items that, although still in good condition, you might not wear again? Gently used coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, pants and hats and gloves are all welcome. Then move on to your kitchen, laundry room and garage. Do you have a serviceable vacuum cleaner or maybe a lamp or bedding that is just taking up space? Local veterans can not only use your surplus items, they’ll be thrilled to get them.
There are currently 1,074 veterans in the Tucson VA homeless program. This is an improvement over last year, but still a sorry state of affairs. Of those over one thousand former service members, 254 are female and 295 served in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
In the past nine months VA social workers have interacted with 210 unsheltered veterans who came from the street and found a place to live. When they are placed in housing, the need is great for household items—bed and bath linens, pots, pans, plates, cups and cutlery. Lamps, vacuum cleaners, cleaning and paper supplies, especially trash bags are always welcomed.
Only winter weight clothing is needed now. Socks and underwear must be new but everything else can be gently used as long as it’s not in need of repair. They especially like getting backpacks and bicycles.
The Women of Quail Creek Homeless Veterans’ Clothing and Household Items Drive will take place on Saturday, October 20 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the Arts and Technology Center. Put it on your calendar now.
So, there you have it: a tidied-up house and the happy feeling you get when you help others. Win-win and twice nice.