The Good Neighbor Center, a homeless veterans shelter in North Charleston, S.C., received approximately $3,000 in non-perishable donations from Veterans of Foreign War, Post 10624 in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and Post 3137 in Isle of Palms, S.C. on July 10.
After several fundraisers and contributions by Post 3137 during 2009, they decided to combine efforts with Post 10624.
“As a non-profit organization, we want to invest in those in need,” said Darrin Voke, Commander of Post 3137. “We know the donations will go to good use at the Good Neighbor Center.”
The private non-profit center provides transitional housing for homeless Veterans from the greater Charleston area. The center celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony on August 6. They will add a new wing to the current refurbished motel to include rooms for fourteen more residents, a larger kitchen with dining area, and office space. They currently serve 33 men, and can house up to 34.
The $880,000 facility will be built by Thompson Turner Construction, Sumter, S.C., and will take approximately six months to build.
“We have worked diligently to meet the financial parameters available to The Good Neighbor Center,” said Hal Thompson, a principal owner of Thompson Turner Construction. “This is an important place in the community.”
The Good Neighbor Center received grants from the Veterans Administration and the State Housing Trust Authority for the building project. There is nearly $50,000 worth of building costs still to be covered in the budget of the construction.
“We will continue to write grants to make up for the difference in our building costs,” said Nancy Cook, executive director of The Good Neighbor Center. “This has been a long process and greatly needed for the center.”
Several board members of the center were present to break ground on the future site.
“It’s been a long time coming, everyone’s happy that we are making progress,” said Bobby Knight, board president. “This ongoing project is a testament of years of hard work and commitment.”
Because of the commitment of those who serve and those who provide donations, the homeless veterans are able to start their lives over.
“The strength of what we do is the assessment of why veterans are homeless and what we can do to assist them in becoming independent,” said Nancy Cook, executive director of The Good Neighbor Center.
The center works with the VA to include weekly inspections of the facility and confidential progress reports of the residents.
Progress for the homeless Veterans includes finding employment, enrolling in college, attending Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings, passing random drug tests and being a contributing member to the center.
If residents cannot pay the $240 a month rent, they are able to perform duties around the center. There are daily duties to perform such as laundry, cutting grass, and general cleaning. The men cook breakfast and clean the kitchen while local churches provide other meals. Residents are evaluated every three months with the maximum stay of two years.
“There is no loafing here,” said David Platt, resident manager. “If a resident doesn’t show progress, he is asked to leave.”
Platt, who was a medic in the Army from 1976-1985, was once a resident at the center.
“Last year was the first time I have paid taxes in fifteen years,” said Platt, who cut school to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, earned his General Equivalency Diploma, and joined the Army.
But like many of homeless veterans, Platt succumbed to drug and alcohol addictions after his eight years of service and eventually found his way to the Good Neighbor Center.
“We do outreach programs to find homeless veterans,” said John McCormick, Assistant Resident Manager. “Every other Saturday, we go to bridges and shelters to find homeless vets, to tell them about the program.”
Through outreach programs like this, the residents of the center are able to give to others the opportunity of a second chance and a chance of claiming their VA benefits.
“I praise these Veterans for turning their lives around,” said Lucy Martin, President of the Ladies Auxiliary, VFW Post 10624. “I am overly impressed with the amount of donations and the work being done at the center.”
Although the non-perishable donations were plentiful, the Good Neighbor Center still has needs to be met.
“We have seven men who are enrolled in college,” said Cook. “We could use computer programs to teach typing and other skills, to help facilitate employment opportunities for the residents.”
Other needs include computers, a printer, and a second vehicle for transporting residents to work and appointments.
As donations continued to pour into the kitchen from the two VFW posts, the residents expressed their gratitude.
“We are so very blessed to have this kind of support,” said one resident. “It’s like Christmas in July!”
Donations are accepted at the Good Neighbor Center, located at 1905 Burton Lane, North Charleston, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The construction of the new building is set to begin in a few weeks and should be complete in early spring.
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.13.2010 16:23 |
| Story ID: | 54544 |
| Location: | NORTH CHARLESTON, US |
| Web Views: | 440 |
| Downloads: | 33 |
This work, Good Neighbor Center Helps Veterans, by SFC Kimberly Calkins, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
