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Friends of Veterans Major Announcement
Friends of Veterans is announcing that for the first time in the organization’s thirty-year history, client assistance for 2017 exceeded $100,000! For 2017, total assistance to veterans and their families residing in New Hampshire and Vermont was $134,775 representing a 43% increase over the previous year. FOV would like to thank all of our grantors, sponsors and donors for the wonderful support that has made this achievement possible. Friends of Veterans is an all volunteer non-profit organization located in White River Junction. FOV provides financial assistance to qualified veterans when eviction or foreclosure is imminent, fuel assistance when local programs are exhausted, electricity when shutoff is imminent and home repairs if livability is an issue. We also assist combat veterans with PTSD to attain a service dog. Freedom Sponsors Wanted Friends of Veterans has begun accepting Freedom Sponsorships for its annual fundraiser on June 4, 2018. Freedom Sponsors ($250) will be published in our brochure (including business logo), will appear on the Friends of Veterans website and will be recognized in the media following the event. Friends of Veterans is non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization as recognized by the IRS. Sponsorships and questions may be directed to our email assistance@fovvtnh.org or by calling 802 296-8368. Checks made out to FOV can be mailed to FOV, 222 Holiday Drive, Suite 20, White River Junction, Vermont 05001. Thank You to Our Annual Fundraiser Sponsors As we begin preparations for our 2018 Annual Golf Fundraiser on June 4, 2018, we again would like to say thank you to our 2017 Major Sponsors and our Freedom Sponsors! 2017 Major Sponsors Tournament Sponsor The Red River Charitable Foundation Presenting Sponsor Crown Point Cabinetry Liberty Sponsor Anonymous Stars and Stripes Sponsor Home Partners Eagle Spirit Sponsor Ennis Construction 2017 Freedom Sponsors Golf and Ski Warehouse Better Home Enterprises Gateway Motors EME Management American Legion Post 25 Central Vermont Communications American Legion Post 22 Pete Lovely Van and Deborah Chandler Janet and Chuck Thibeault Kathy and Pete Davis Brian Tart American Legion Post 29 Yankee Barn Homes NH Realtors Association Ginny and Patt Taylor In Memory of Navy Veteran Mitch Leonard, Jr Service Dogs In partnership with The Red River Charitable Foundation, Friends of Veterans just provided funds for a fourth service dog. Craig Souza of Plymouth, New Hampshire was seriously wounded in Iraq and is wheel chair bound. Craig is now linked up with Donali a nine week old Black Lab who will be Craig’s service dog. We continue to accept inquiries and applications from combat veterans with PTSD who require a service dog. New Sponsor Friends of Veterans welcomes our new partnership with Cantore Pizza located 1 Glen Road in West Lebanon, New Hampshire. Cantore Pizza is a major supporter of veterans in the Upper Valley and has pledged on-going support to Friends of Veterans from the its first Monday of the month pizza business. Thank You Cantore Pizza! Serving Veterans and their Families
Veteran homelessness remains a serious issue that requires ongoing attention by all of us in the community. Although the national veteran homeless rate has decreased 39% in the last five years, the combined veteran homeless rate in New Hampshire and Vermont has actually increased by 15% in the last year.
Veteran homelessness rates remain substantially higher than rates for the general population. Friends of Veterans works tirelessly to assist veterans and their families who reside in New Hampshire or Vermont and are in imminent danger of becoming homeless. We are one of the very few organizations that is 100% volunteer; we have no paid staff. Friends of Veterans is an all volunteer 501 (c) 3 organization comprised of veterans and non-veterans. We welcome all who would like to assist our nation’s heroes. |
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Although there are many local and national efforts to reduce veteran homelessness, we expect the veteran homeless challenge to be significant well into the future. Recent forecasts reflect that as many as 200,000 military men and women will exit the armed services due to national budget (sequestration) issues. Many will return to civilian life less than adequately prepared to attain a meaningful job in a tough employment environment. At the same time, National Guard and Reserve outfits will continue to be activated and deployed to foreign lands. As NPR has recently reported, National Guard and Reserve troops find it very difficult to keep their jobs because of many unscheduled or extended deployments. Both New Hampshire and Vermont guard units have been (and are) deployed.
