Thomas Gasta, Author at HVAF

February 22, 2016

Local truck club helps homeless veterans

The sound of pick-up trucks could be heard rumbling into the parking lot at HVAF on January 24. You could hear them coming from blocks away. Twenty-three pickup trucks in all converged in the parking lot with a donation for homeless veterans. Fifty members of […]

February 22, 2016

Volunteer impact is far-reaching

Eight volunteers spent the afternoon of January 27 in the food pantry at HVAF. When the American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters Accounting Team arrived, there were bags and boxes of new food and hygiene donations lining the hallway, with more in the pantry. The donations […]

February 22, 2016

Employment services offer new opportunities for veterans at HVAF

February 18 at 7:30am was a noteworthy date for Mark B., 51, a native of Houston, Texas. He returned back to work after 10 years of intermittent homelessness, job loss and countless setbacks. Mark currently calls Wheeler Mission home and is an electrician by trade. […]

February 24, 2016

A veteran at HVAF gets a wake up call

Freddie, 57, is a veteran who came to HVAF for help in recovery. He served in the Army from 1976-79 and enjoyed traveling. He says years of substance abuse led to medical problems. In August 2015, he entered HVAF’s Residential, Employment, Substance Abuse, Treatment (REST) […]

March 14, 2016

Navy veteran’s financial struggles at home

Gary at HVAF Many veterans return from serving in the military to face enormous financial burdens. Gary T., 52, is no different. In the mid-80’s he joined the U.S. Navy and worked as a Radar Operator managing tactical and navigational charts. After serving, he moved […]

March 16, 2016

Iowa students lend a helping hand at HVAF

Iowa State University’s Greek Alternative Spring Break students had the opportunity to volunteer at HVAF of Indiana. Members tied their experiences to their fraternal values through a series of visits to not-for-profits across Central Indiana. Twenty members volunteered on March 16 to paint the American flag […]

March 25, 2016

Music that soothes the soul, volunteer from Musical Resources at HVAF

Nancy and Angela at HVAF It was a billboard sign along a highway about HVAF serving homeless veterans that caught Nancy Hart’s eyes. It was a last minute cancellation that gave Angela a chance at a piano lesson where she would meet Nancy. It was […]

March 25, 2016

Veterans at HVAF collect water for residents of Flint, Michigan

A wide range of groups are currently collecting or helping to bring water to needy residents in Flint, Michigan where 100,000 residents have no clean drinking water due to lead-contamination. Veterans in HVAF’s Vet2Vet group have teamed up with Dollar General #6874 to collect bottled […]

March 25, 2016

Indianapolis veteran overcomes physical and emotional challenges

Lamont at HVAF Lamont is a four-year Navy veteran who served on six deployments. As a shipping and receiving clerk he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. When his service ended, Lamont struggled to find work. In 1987, he was hired at G&G Metal Spinners where he […]