BU MVSC FILLS BACKPACKS FOR HOMELESS VETS For the sixth straight year, the Bellevue University Military Veteran Services Center (MVSC) led a community-wide drive to fill and provide backpacks with essential items to military veterans experiencing homelessness. “The things that many of us take for granted mean the world to these veterans,” said Heather Carroll, MVSC Manager. Carroll said the drive is co-sponsored by the Wounded Warrior Project and that more than a dozen other non-profit organizations and community groups donated items such as hand sanitizer, packaged snacks, soap, winter hats, gloves, and boots, and more. Monetary donations and gift cards were also accepted. One unexpected item included in the backpacks is a personal, handwritten note thanking veterans for their service. Kaylene Sasse, ESL Program Director at Bellevue University, coordinated the note writing effort involving multiple volunteers. “I wanted the veteran recipients to feel like this was a gift and not just a handout,” she said. “As a Solder’s Angel and the granddaughter of a deceased WW II vet, I’m always looking for ways to show our service members and vets how much I appreciate their them and their service and sacrifice.”
Locally, several hundred military veterans seek shelter at the Siena Francis House each year; while nationally, about 20 percent of all homeless persons are veterans. Traditionally, the filled backpacks are presented at a Veterans Day flag ceremony at Siena Francis House. However, this year, no ceremony was held due to the pandemic and backpacks were dropped off at the shelter. Carroll said that 50 backpacks have already been distributed to veterans and the remainder will be provided throughout the year.
Bellevue University students Raynier Harrington (Ray) and Sandy HernandezJones helped lead the project as part of their Kirkpatrick Series Service Project. “Last year, 75 backpacks were donated to the Siena Francis House,” Harrington said. “We increased that number to 98 this year and were able to help even more military veterans.”
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