Barnes & Thornburg has regularly adopted a family in need at Christmastime. This year, the law firm’s attorneys and employees decided that, in addition to adopting a family, they wanted to provide a happier Christmas for others in Indianapolis. Their thoughts went immediately to the older citizens and veterans in our community.

Because of Barnes & Thornburg attorney Bill Moreau’s involvement in HVAF of Indiana, Inc. and the desire to honor veterans, firm employees decided to create a giving tree and buy gifts for veterans at the Manchester Home and the Moreau Home. “You can’t turn on the news without seeing a story about a member of the military having to be away from his or family at Christmas, or coming home just in time for the holidays. So it’s great we can do a little something to make the holidays happier for our veterans, who fought so hard for our freedom,” said one employee. The Moreau Home is named for Bill’s father, Col. (ret.) Donald W. Moreau, Sr., a former HVAF board member and president, who had a 28-year Army career followed by a 20-year career in Indiana state government. Col. Moreau was recently inducted as an inaugural member of the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

The employees of the law firm enjoyed learning what each veteran put on his or her Christmas list. “Some of the veterans asked for so little, we wanted to know what more we could give them,” said Judy Worland, one of the Barnes & Thornburg employees who took part in the giving tree. The lists included everything from the basic necessities to personal items to specific types of clothing. And the attorneys and staff were happy to oblige; many also gave gift cards to the veterans so they could shop for additional items they might need.

Donald E., 62, a Navy veteran also found housing at HVAF’s Manchester Apartments in May of 2014. He will be transitioning from HVAF’s supportive housing to his own apartment soon and was extremely grateful for the microwave he received.

Many of the Barnes & Thornburg employees included personal notes and letters to the veterans, saying thank you for their service. Others asked if they could send homemade treats, which were welcomed by the veterans at the Manchester Home and the Moreau Home.

“Once again, my Barnes & Thornburg colleagues have stepped up in a significant way to support a special group of Indianapolis citizens, those who served our country honorably only to find themselves without a place to call home,” said Bill Moreau. “This is just one of countless examples of the firm’s support for those agencies that serve the poorest of the poor, and why I am so proud of this place.”

The firm also bought gifts for the residents in a local nursing home.