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Local veterans in need of basic necessities, as well as job leads, can get assistance at the Veterans Resource Fair on June 11 in Kissimmee. SUBMITTED PHOTO
The Veterans Resource Fair on June 11 at the Kissimmee Civic Center, will provide food, clothing, shelter, and jobs to local veterans in need. The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will be the kick-off for the Foundation’s Homeless Veterans Program, which seeks to identify homeless veterans and provide communications capability to obtain benefits.
Community partners for the fair include the Osceola County Sheriff ’s Office, the Kissimmee Police Department, and Congressman Darren Soto’s Office. Naji Aalim, the co-chair of the Homeless Veterans Program, said the law enforcement officers “are the key to establishing contact with homeless veterans,” which is the crucial first step in the process to get them assistance and off of the street.
At the fair, cell phones and tab lets will be distributed to qualified veterans to serve as essential communication links for them to obtain benefits.
The Mercy Foundation was established as a Florida 501c3 nonprofit in 2018, but has been helping the community for many years before that, according to Dr. Abdul Patel, one of the group’s founders.
“We started at the Kissimmee Chambers Park, providing a clinic, educational fairs and scholarships and ‘Hand Up’ programs,” said Patel.
Medical clinic activity is conducted through The Free Clinic of Florida, a Haines City charitable organization that provides medical, psychiatric, and dental services to eligible community members, according to their website. The Foundation has an account at a local pharmacy for clinic users to obtain proscribed medications and also performs service projects in other areas of Osceola County, including St. Cloud and Holopaw. The Foundation is expanding into Orange County as well, according to its website.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), there are over 40,000 homeless veterans on the streets of America on any given night. These numbers have been greatly reduced for the 2009 to 2017 period, and there are significant resources available to state and local officials and organizations to assist homeless veterans in their communities. The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838) is a key first step for homeless veterans to obtain federal benefits. Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can call, as well as family members, friends, and supporters calling on behalf of veterans. Federal, state, and local partners, including community agencies and providers who serve Veterans who are homeless, are also able to call on the veteran’s behalf. VA programs exist to help with mental health and addiction and substance misuse issues, major causes of veteran homelessness.
For more information, go to http://mercyfoundation usa.org/.
