Here at VOADV, we’ve seen the devastating impact that the COVID-19 pandemic can have. From a client faced with maintaining a job while caring for her children to the many individuals struggling to afford basic necessities like rent, this past year has been especially difficult for all of the populations we serve.
However, in a year where so many people were faced with their own unique challenges, many individuals still stepped up to support members of the community in need.
One place where this was especially prominent was VOADV’s Home For The Brave, a 30 bed transitional housing program for single, male veterans.
Transitioning out of the military and into the community comes with its own unique set of challenges that can affect many aspects of a veteran’s life. With a focus on harm reduction and trauma-informed care principles, eligible veterans may reside for up to two years at Home For The Brave while working on recovery, employment, and independent living skills.
Structure Tone, a local company based in Philadelphia, PA, saw an opportunity to provide additional support for these veterans and partnered with Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) to organize a food drive. Team RWB, an organization that aims to involve veterans in their communities through physical and social activities, dropped-off hundreds of non-perishable food items to help support veterans at the Home For The Brave program.
While the goal of Home For The Brave is to provide housing and supportive services to veterans experiencing homelessness in order for them to achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and/or income, and obtain greater self-determination, the support these veterans need to succeed does not stop once they transition out of the program.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to create uncertainty and instability, VOADV’s Veteran Services team wanted to make sure veterans now residing in permanent housing also felt supported over the holidays.
With that in mind, they created a Boxes Of Joy fundraiser – giving members of the community the opportunity to donate non-perishable food items to be packaged as a fun holiday gift and delivered to local veterans in need.
Once again, the generosity of the community shone through as Home For The Brave staff collected donations and delivered Boxes of Joy to former residents who are now stably housed in VOADV’s Waterfront Village, Brittin Village and Cottages residences, as well as veterans now living throughout the local area.
“We have received so much support from the community in the last few months, and that generosity has allowed us to fully stock the Home For The Brave pantry, ensuring that none of our veterans will go hungry,” said Christina Lemma, Program Director at VOADV’s Aletha R. Wright Vision of Hope Center and Home For The Brave. “It is so important to support our veterans and make sure they have the resources and services they need in order to eventually transition out of the program and lead independent lives.”
While Home For The Brave is incredibly grateful for the support they have received thus far, the winter months are always the most difficult when it comes to maintaining resources. To view the Home For The Brave Winter Donation Wish List, click here.