Roger That Podcast Ep 12: Meet the 2023 12 Vets of Christmas!
November 20, 2023
Message from the CEO: It’s our season!
December 11, 2023Celebrate HVAF’s 30th Anniversary for Giving Tuesday!
Today is Giving Tuesday – an annual celebration of generosity that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past ten years, the day has become an opportunity for people around the world to come together to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those in need.
Throughout 2023, HVAF has been celebrating 30 years of serving homeless and at-risk veterans and their families – a milestone that wouldn’t be possible without your support! For this Giving Tuesday, we are asking you to donate a symbolic $30 to support veterans in need.
$30 will go a long way as we enter the winter months… Here are some of the ways your $30 donation will support a veteran in need.
1. Provide a holiday meal for a veteran family
Just $30 can help one of HVAF’s veteran families enjoy a meal together this holiday season. One family that will appreciate your support is Army veteran Chris and his three children.
Nowadays, Chris enjoys his mornings at the gym and evenings at home with his three kids.
But it hasn’t always been this way.
Chris served as a shop repair mechanic in the United States Army from 2007-2009. He described his life after the military as “horrible,” as he spent 10 years off of the grid and using drugs.
Finally, in August 2019, a family friend reached out to HVAF on his behalf. Chris was first connected to Dorian, one of HVAF’s case managers. He said he appreciated how Dorian didn’t judge him for his past, and was always such an encouragement to him.
“She was a motivator for me,” Chris said. “She was the first gateway to my sobriety.”
After a few months of living in a hotel, and working with the courts to gain back custody of his children, he received an important phone call. In November, HVAF was opening up its very first permanent supportive housing units and offered one to Chris!
He said he hoped to have his kids back before the holidays. The day before Thanksgiving, they came home with him for good. Chris has now been drug free since August 2019, and smoke free since November 2019.
“HVAF has played a humongous part in my life changing,” Chris said. “I will never look back again.”
This is the sixth Thanksgiving and Christmas that Chris and his family get to enjoy together thanks to HVAF’s case managers and permanent supportive housing. And thanks to your support, they can enjoy a holiday meal together!
2. Provide essential winter gear for Heroes living on the streets
Just $30 can provide essential winter gear for homeless heroes living on the streets. HVAF Outreach Coordinator Rodney goes out to local homeless camps every day to serve the veterans in need.
He builds relationships with the homeless veterans, supplies them with necessities, and lets them know HVAF is ready to help them become self-sufficient whenever they’re ready.
“I don’t come out here to judge, I just come out and try to help them out,” Rodney said. “It takes a community to help these people. They need help with housing, mental health, hygiene, food, clothing, and stability.”
As temperatures begin to drop, Rodney is especially thankful for your winter gear donations so he can keep providing for Indy’s homeless veterans!
If you would like to help keep Rodney’s van stocked for the homeless veterans, please check out our Amazon Wish List.
3. Cover the cost of an application fee for a veteran seeking permanent housing
Your $30 donation can also cover the cost of an application fee for a veteran applying for permanent housing. Vulnerable veterans are seeking permanent housing every day in Indianapolis – including Navy veteran Anna.
As she was getting out of a tough situation at the beginning of this year, Navy veteran Anna was desperate to find a safe place for her and her 2-year-old son, Amir.
Her uncle, who is also a veteran, told her to call HVAF. She went from living in her car to moving into a hotel that same day! Soon after, Anna applied for HVAF’s permanent housing and is living at Proctor Place today.
“When they brought me in here, I started jumping up and down!” Anna said. “It’s really nice and quiet. I love it.”
Living at Proctor Place, Anna still has access to a case manager who works on site at the apartment complex. And she knows she can access any of HVAF’s programs and services when needed.
“I’m just happy,” Anna said. “I’m happy I came across HVAF.”
Check out Anna’s original story & video here.