MNSights - Spring 2012 - (Page 6)

J>;IJ7J;M;¼H;?D What Would Minnesota’s Veterans Organizations Do With a $10,000 Donation? In the past 10 years, the United States has seen the largest overseas deployment of Minnesotans since World War II. Now, thankfully, most of our men and women are returning, but to the worst economy since the Great Depression. Minnesota’s charitable veterans organizations are key bridges between service and civilian life, providing everything from mental health care and jobs training to food and housing. Here’s what a few of them could do with $10,000: Veterans on the Lake Resort l Ely Deb Schaper, Business Manager “[We] provide a barrier-free setting for outdoor recreation for disabled veterans. In our Cabin Nine, we’ve been wanting to knock out a closet to make the bathroom handicapped accessible and buy a roll-in shower unit. We also want to revamp the kitchen with a wheelchair-accessible counter.” ELY Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans l Duluth Region l Kathleen Vitalis, President and CEO “$10,000 would help eight veterans and their families take care of immediate housing and emergency needs for two months in the Duluth region. That’s signiﬁcant to stabilize them and get them out of homelessness.” DULUTH UNDERWOOD Project New Hope Military Family Retreats l Underwood l Mike Mills, Veterans Liaison and Retired Sergeant First Class “Such a donation could be used in different ways. The cost per family for one free retreat weekend [to help families learn to manage life after war] is approximately $350. And because of the distance some families and veterans have to travel, it could be used for gas cards so transportation doesn’t become a deciding factor.” MINNEAPOLIS Minneapolis VA Health Care System l Katy Ryan, Director of Voluntary/Community Resource Service “The Fisher House on the Minneapolis VA Medical Center grounds enables family members of our wounded soldiers and veterans to stay close to their loved ones while they are hospitalized due to unexpected illness, disease or injury. This is at no cost to the families. A donation of that size would keep the families staying at Fisher House fed for ﬁve months!” SP RIN G I 2 01 2 HASTINGS Minnesota Veteran Family Support l Hastings l Cathy Wenzel, Executive Director “Our current need is donations to Project Backpack. We pack backpacks for kids in families with members who are currently deployed, recently returned (within one year), wounded or disabled, and MIA/KIA (missing in action/killed in action). … On average, kindergarten to grade-school backpacks [ﬁlled with school supplies] range from $30 to $50 dollars, while high school backpacks can cost up to $175.” MN SIGHTS 6

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MNSights - Spring 2012

MNSights - Spring 2012
Contents
Helping Local Veterans
Who Inspires Us: John and Nancy Lindahl
How to Boost Minnesota’s Workforce
Fun Ways for Kids to Give

MNSights - Spring 2012