Donate your car to support homeless veterans this fall
As temperatures drop for homeless veterans, donate your car to help
According to Veterans, Inc., veterans are twice as likely to experience chronic homelessness in their lifetime than the average American civilian — a statistic Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio is diligently trying to eradicate. Astonishingly, the number of homeless Vietnam-era veterans is higher than the number of service persons who died during the Vietnam War. Meanwhile, veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are already appearing among the homeless population.
You can help! When you donate your car to Volunteers of America, you’re supporting veterans struggling with homelessness or at risk of becoming so. Support for homeless veterans is about more than shelter; it’s providing the necessary clothes, goods and services to those in our housing programs. Those services include counseling, job and life skills training, community resources, and more.
Provide veterans personal care kits
When you donate your car you’re giving back to homeless veterans in your community because when a vehicle is sold at auction, all proceeds go back to Volunteers of America programs and services that positively impact the lives of the nearly 2,000 veterans we serve annually. In addition to auto donation, you can help Ohio veterans who enter our shelters or housing programs by assembling Personal Care Kits. These kits consist of basic items, such as:
- Disposable razors
- Shaving cream
- Deodorant (non-aerosol)
- Bar soap
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Combs or brushes
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Body lotion
While these veterans are under our care, we try to rehabilitate them so they can move on to transitional housing or out on their own. Some items we like to provide to these individuals when they leave the program are:
- Laundry detergent
- Trash can
- Broom
- Dust pan
- Mop
- Dishwashing liquid
- Shower curtain
- Shower curtain rings
- All purpose cleaner
- Kitchen sponges
- Paper towels
- Hand soap
- Toilet paper
- Bath towels
- Wash cloths
- Pillows
- Pillowcases
- Twin sheets and blankets
- T-shirts and long-sleeve shirts
- Blouses and dress shirts
- Sweaters and sweatshirts
- Socks
- Tennis shoes, dress shoes and boots
- Underwear and undershirts
- Winter coats and jackets
- Scarves, hats and gloves
Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio serves 1,800 annually
Last year there were over 500,000 homeless veterans in the United States — more than 12,000 of which were homeless in the state of Ohio. Here at Volunteers of America, we offer programs and services targeted specifically to afflicted veterans in our communities. Currently, we are the leader among human-service providers providing aid to homeless veterans in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton. Among these services are:
- Transitional Housing for Veterans — Providing a long-term, structured environment designed to meet the unique needs of homeless veterans
- Emergency Housing for Veterans — Providing a short-term, structured environment designed to meet the unique needs of homeless veterans
- Treatment Programs for Veterans — These programs help veterans recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and those with mental illness or dual diagnoses
- Permanent Housing for Veterans — This veteran-only apartment complex provides stability to veterans so they’re able to build upon and strengthen the community
- Veteran Employment Services — Our job-readiness and training services help veterans find and maintain suitable employment
- Veterans & Families FIRST — This supportive service is for veterans and their families who are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- Veterans Domiciliary at Wade Park — An all-encompassing approach to veteran homelessness, health and well-being
Through our #YouAreMyHero campaign, you can become an important part of the services, programs, and treatment reaching thousands of veterans across Ohio. But, your impact goes further than that – you're giving veterans the tools to lead sustainable, productive lives. You're giving veterans hope for a brighter future.
Whether you donate your car, time or money, you can help end homelessness for those already on the street and help to prevent others from becoming homeless — as has been our commitment since 1992.