Veterans’ Outreach in the Valley reaches out for dollars to expand

By Denise Dick

The group mailed 500 letters appealing for contributions; only one company donated.

STRUTHERS — A nonprofit group that assists veterans in need is looking for some help too.

Veterans’ Outreach provides help to veterans in transition including help paying utility bills, buying food, repairing a car and buying gas, but its Youngstown-Poland Road quarters are getting cramped.

The organization, which operates entirely on donations, can’t pay a lot toward rent.

“We’d like to stay under $800 per month,” said Robert Julian, vice president-treasurer.

It also hopes for at least 3,000 square feet in Mahoning County, close to a Western Reserve Transit Authority bus line. If additional space is available, it may expand the services offered.

The office has been in the 1,200 square-foot space it rents on Youngstown-Poland Road for about seven years. The tight confines require employees to store some supplies in the basement of the vacant storefront next door.

Workers collect donations at area stores, especially Wal-Mart and Giant Eagle, but many major retailers in the area prohibit solicitations, limiting those efforts.

“The majority of the people we help are from Mahoning County, but the least amount of our revenue comes from Mahoning County,” Julian said.

Veterans’ Outreach also receives grants or donations from some businesses, including Home Savings and Loan, which has contributed $5,000 to the organization in each of the last three years. Area food banks, including Second Harvest, also helps the organization with assistance to veterans.

Ron Haus Auto Group donated a van to Veterans’ Outreach earlier this year.

“It’s primarily for transportation for veterans,” said Jack W. Stephenson, the organization’s community representative.

But as economic turmoil widens, the number of people in need increases, and donations haven’t been keeping up.

“This January, we saw a good 30 percent more people than a year ago,” Julian said. “Donations are down at least 30 percent” from last year.

Last year, Veterans’ Outreach sent letters to 500 businesses asking for donations. “We got one donation of $50,” Julian said.

As more troops return from Iraq, the need — for all agencies that help veterans — will only increase, he said.

Julian, dubbed “Mr. Bob” by the veterans he helps, started the organization with John Ely and Tom Price after seeing some of the difficulties veterans encounter. They also have smaller offices in West Virginia, Kentucky and Florida, but money donated locally is used to help area veterans.

A veteran must show his or her VA card and discharge to get help, as well as prove the need.

Assistance isn’t limited to particular items.

Recently a veteran came to the office upset because he couldn’t get a job, and his family was annoyed with him. Julian learned the problem stemmed from car trouble. The man couldn’t get a job because he couldn’t get to work.

Julian gave the man a check to fix the car’s alternator.

“For a mere $75, this guy’s life is straightened out,” he said.

There is a limit of $200 per person per year to ensure they help as many people as possible.

Coming in and asking for help isn’t easy for many vets, some of whom suffer from physical or emotional ailments.

“Some of these people come in here and 30 days ago they were in the field,” Stephenson said. “Someone was shooting at them, or they were shooting at someone.”

An office worker heard one veteran after speaking with Julian remark, “This is the only place I’ve been where I’ve left with my dignity,” Julian said.

The office is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. More information is available by calling (330) 755-5792 or visiting www.veteransoutreach.net.

“The number of people we help is very satisfying,” Julian said.

denise_dick@vindy.com