CALHOUN COUNTY, Mich.-The local organization "Vets Helping Vets" has helped more than 550 veterans with what they say is a "hand up" in both Calhoun and Kalamazoo County since 2012. The organization made up mostly of Vietnam veterans and a current member of the Army Reserves fills the gaps where government housing often leaves off. "Donations of household items, donations of furniture, bedding, towels and hygiene products," said Sarah Pauley of Vets Helping Vets. Pauley adds, "We collect the items we had donated to us, we load them up in our truck and trailer and take them to that veteran ."
However, the organization's members are getting older and dealing with some health issues like knee and hip replacements, so they're looking for volunteers. The organization could also use more storage space to hold all the items they've collected over the years. Vets Helping Vets currently has items in several different storage units, but each costs around $100 per month so they're looking for cheaper options, like a pole-barn or land on which they could build storage space.
For more information on how you can help Vets Helping Vets, call ( 269) 425-2210 or (269) 420-7638 or click on vetshelpswmi.org.