Tuesday, March 10, 2015

#no1leftbehind Demo Weekend!

February 28-29, 2015 - Many of you have heard me talk about the #no1leftbehind campaign that directly impact homeless veterans in Mid-Missouri and I have had several ask when is work going to start on this new campus. After this weekend I can proudly say that work has begun and progress has been made because of Veterans United employees, Team Rubicon, The Mission Continues and Mizzou Student Veterans Association.

(Photo Credit: Veterans United)

What was once known as the Deluxe Inn Hotel at 2112 Business Loop 70 East in Columbia, MO will soon be known at Patriot's Place which will house Welcome Home, Inc. along with offices for Columbia Housing Authority and Harry S. Truman's Veterans Hospital to make it easier to help homeless veterans transition back into the community with resources needed to be successful. This is a hand up not a hand out approach to helping those that fought for our country and our freedom.

 (Photo Credit: Veteran's United)
It's hard to imagine that by 2016 these doors will no longer look like an old hotel but instead be a threshold that house deserving men and women that saw our community not give up on them. Behind these doors are a second chance at the life they have earned and totally deserve. 

 I gotta say that it was incredible and heartwarming to see these volunteers made up of both men and women working so hard together get the demo done (even through snowy Missouri weather) so they can start turning this old hotel into a much needed space for our veterans that would include space for female veterans and families. 

 Something that I will always remember from this weekend is seeing 5 veterans that currently live at Welcome Home, Inc. came out to help with this project. When they first arrived you could tell that they maybe didn't fit in as smoothly with the group (perhaps because they didn't really know anyone) but I will tell you that by lunch time those guys had their heads held high, chests puffed out and you could see the pride running through their bodies as they were helping to make a difference! I can't tell you how proud I was to witness something like this. You see veterans are some of the most special people. If they noticed for a second that another veteran was needing help fitting in they worked along side them. They may have given a smile and continued to swing a sledge hammer and that veteran just simply said "we got this" without saying a word. Together they make a difference in the lives of others in a positive way and that's exactly what I love about our military men and women!  

This demo weekend was truly about taking this campaign to the next level and showing what is going to be done as the funds are raised.... 
PROGRESS = COMMITMENT!
#no1leftbehind
Veteran's United Employees (partial)
  Team Rubicon - Region 7






Please take a moment to read some of the articles from this past weekend in our newspapers!

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/doing-damage-for-a-cause/article_2c6758fb-e929-5483-ae9e-ec4a8396235a.html

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/a/185764/service-organizations-unite-to-expand-housing-for-homeless-veterans/

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