Veteran’s Community Center, Strasburg, Virginia

PROJECT FOR OUR VETERANS

Vienna Moose Lodge #1896,
9616 Court House Road,
Vienna, VA  22180

Telephone – 703 281-4370

So let’s support our veterans.  In order to make transitional housing for our veterans, 100% of the funds raised to renovate a 3000 sq ft structure in the Town of Strasburg for veterans, called the Veterans/Community Center to provide a place for veterans and their families that are in need while we seek permanent facility for them to live.  We would love to have your support.

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Well, this month has been an extremely busy one and I am glad that we can be there to help so many, so I won’t keep you from this development of the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing:

WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (December 4 & 7, 2011) At this time of the year we all looking at what comes down who will come down the chimney in a few weeks, but there was another surprise that was in Winchester on these two dates and that was the United States Army Bands, that came to our community to help us say thank you to our veterans.

On December 4, 2011 at Armstrong Concert Hall on the campus of Shenandoah University in the heart of Winchester, we had also had a local Bluegrass group called Flint Hollow that provide performances for our audience and then the 29th Divisional Band, Clifton Forge, Virginia performed a selection of music that covered patriotic, holiday and ceremonial:

Winchester based Bluegrass group known as

“Flint Hollow”

a traditional bluegrass band based on the styling’s commonly heard in bluegrass music in the 1950′s. Their repertoire consists of songs from the vaults of Flatt & Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers, and original compositions written by Flint Hollow’s musicians. Flint Hollow strives for a balance between that “high-lonesome” sound and a contemporary bluegrass sound that result in a truly unique approach to all of the songs they offer

Mandolin & Vocals – Vince Diem

Rhythm Guitar & Vocals – Randy Collins

Banjo – Chris Athey

Bass Fiddle – Paul Clowes

Lead Guitar / Vocals – Brian Brewer

The 29th US Army Divisional Band, Clifton Forge, Virginia

Under the direction today by 1SG Fred Lewis

The 29th Division Band is a Virginia Army National Guard Unit that is currently located in Clifton Forge, VA. Our unit currently serves around 80 missions per year by utilizing one or more of many different groups. It is comprised of a rock band, concert band, jazz band, and small musical support teams. We are made up of 50+ members from all areas of the state and even have some members who are living outside of the state of Virginia.

The Band originated in Roanoke in 1922 as a section of the 116th Infantry Brigade’s Service Company. But in October 1943, it was inducted into federal service as part of the “Blue and Gray” 29th Division (so called because it included National Guard units from Maryland (Union Blue) and Virginia (Confederate Gray)).

2012 Miss Apple Blossom

We were also honored to have with us for the Event, Ms Kourtney Marie Ginn, 2012 Miss Apple Blossom, who was just two weeks earlier was crowned at her ceremony. She had enlightened the audience with her platform that she feels so strong about “Advocating for the Arts”.

We will be having and seeing Kourtney in some of our future Event.

Congratulation and Best wishes for your reign as

Massanutten Military Academy Color Guard

Cadet Lousia Stanwich, Randolph Academy

As we finished this Event we had to get it together as in 3 days we were at the Patsy Cline Theater and had our second concert this time we had “Flint Hollow, but they were second in line as we had the Band of the Nation’s Capital Ensemble. Oh, the weather on Sunday was great, but on Wednesday evening we had to have of course winter, rainy with snow, but even though it started a little later due to some of the musicians getting held up in traffic, but as they say the show went on

Here are our Masters of Ceremonies for the Events:

Mr. Robert J. Flynn

Mr. Lou Moschetto

 We were honored to have with us the “Band of the Nations Capital”, Washington, DC under the toolage of CWO Sheila Koltz

I found out after they returned that their Chief came down with severe bronchitis and was hoping to come, but of course that wasn’t to be and she had to scramble a replacement. I am happy to say the entire winter concert tour and will be here to perform in December 2012,

One of own talented groups in Winchester graced us with two performances for our audiences; they are musicians that have a unique talent of mastering the sounds of Earl Scruggs, Bill Stanley and others of that time frame. Their Bluegrass sound was excellent as you seen many in attendance just tapping their feet and just moving with the music.

Gentlemen, Thank you all for two great performances.

“Flint Hollow”

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Steve Markland & Ruben Cruz

WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (December 17, 2011) There are many people that are having a real struggle in these economic times, and there are many that have no places to live or to have someone that cares about them and they are in homes that are always overcrowded and there are so many boys and girls that have just really have no other place to go.

Every year an organization of men here in the City of Winchester known as the Knights of Columbus have a very special time and the sharing lots of Love and Joy for all these boys and girl with their Annual “Veterans Children Event”. If you were to come by they would just say, come on in, and help us share in this wonderful day, that what it’s all about. You would see children making gingerbread houses with the gumdrops and

Willie Conley & Simon Krank

decorating it with icing, many getting it all over themselves and playing all types of games, you would be surprised that over in the corner of the room and to our amazement a group of children young and old were playing a game that most of us over 30 to 50 years ago played when we were children called “Charades”.

Many organizations in the area help out the Knights with collections of toys and our vendors donate a variety of goods and products so everyone shares in the splendor of this wonderful event. Here are just some of the many photos taken that day so all of you can see what the spirit is all about.

Ladies & Gentlemen, Our starting players for the Washington Mystics

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Santa Helper’s

Well, it’s true what you hear on TV and all about the Santa’s Helpers that give to those who are in need, here is one for you here in Winchester:

From: Anonymous
Date: 12/12/2011 4:10:59 PM
To: DVCH123@GMAIL.COM
Subject: Disabled Vets

To: John Lewandowski,

I would like to thank you for the reference. The bill for the other person has been taken care of. If there are any others in this area, please forward me the information.

Thank you for your help in this matter, as I couldn’t have done it without your help. It is honors to help those who have serve/served in our Military Forces, especially in their time of need. Hopefully this will help to make their Christmas’s a little more special.

Sincerely,
Respect for Privacy

WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (December 17, 2011) As you see on TV and hear about there are people that are called Christmas Elves or Santa’s Givers, or by another name as well, but they would pay off bills of a person’s that is less fortunate or they will provide them with a gift card so they can get food for their homes to have a wonderful Christmas, or maybe pay off a hospital bill.

It’s not hard to believe that goes on, well, I was very proud that I had a gentleman that called our organization and wanted to have a list of veterans with a little background about them and how many were in the family, as he wanted to be able to pay back their service to our country, but he wanted to remain anonymous.

So I did comply with his wishes and provided a list of 15 veteran’s families from the Winchester, Frederick County, Shenandoah County, he requested these areas and one day I received a call from him, that he close to our office and wanted to stop by our office he stopped by to meet and talk and just before he left he handed me a gift card and said you use this however you want to, so I bought items for the gift baskets so that we can help other families.

I gave the rest of the funds left on the card to a family where the mother had been suffering with cancer and couldn’t even buy her daughter a gift, will I am happy to say that now through this giving person they will have presents under the tree for her daughter and a great meal.
Many of our veterans thought it was a joke or a prank why would someone just give them a gift card to help them, and I said “Many people are very appreciative of what you did for our country and for them, keeping their families safe, they wanted to say “Thank you” in their own special way”.

To our Christmas Anonymous: You have made many of our families in the Northern Shenandoah Area have a smile on their face that otherwise would not have the Christmas for their families that they now have. You made so many people smile and I am only sorry that you didn’t hear or see their reaction, but the look on their face would have made your heart feel so warm. Your kindness and generosity for your fellow man is quite rewarding for you. From all of us at the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing and the family that you made so very happy, thank you and God Bless You.

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WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (December 21, 2011): The Post Office has a saying, “We will deliver in rain, sleet or snow”, well they have a few others organizations that have that same philosophy and they are the members of the Knights of Columbus Chapter #3572 and Assembly #1883 and the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing.

Santa’s Knights checking thing twice to see that all in right

But it was a very special day as you can see we prepared Christmas baskets for the veterans and homebound members of the Sacred Heart parish that are supported by our organizations. We had all types of items in there for them and an added surprise we were able to place a turkey & all the dressings that go with it for this holiday. Our organization came through just look at all of the items that we passed along to the veterans and homebound families. There were so many of our members that came out and made up the boxes and pack them and took their day to bring joy and happiness to our community. Here are some of the photos of preparation and delivery.

One of our veterans that Santa wanted to just say "Thank You"

This program is put on every year that we can just to tell all of our families from our homebound that we will come and make your holiday just a little brighter.  We also had the Knight do the same thing on Thanksgiving with turkeys.  They delievered 30 baskets on each of the holidays

Thanks to all of our Knights that are in and those that are not in the pictures as if it wasn’t for all your hard work and time that you do for homebound members of our area, would not had the Christmas that you help provide for them. God’s Bless All of You.

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FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA (December 19, 2011) It was a very delightful day and that’s was not just the weather aspects, but the most important thing was accomplished as a group of organizations all wanted to have in mind one thing – Our Veterans – we wanted to start at task force called Northern Shenandoah Valley Region (NSVR) Coalition for the Homeless. All of the organizations that were in attendance work daily with veterans or homeless persons in the vet Northern Shenandoah Valley, and they will work with the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (DVCH) to seek a grant in February from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Earlier this year January, the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing held our initial community meeting at the Winchester Medical Center Conference Center to see and to obtain backing from leaders of organization that were willing to help with the veteran’s issues, had a large turnout, but were not favorably consider as the receiptants of the grant that was presented by the Veterans Administration.

The organizations that are accepting this challenge, Northwestern Community Services, Front Royal, Virginia, Able Forces Inc, Front Royal, Virginia, Knights of Columbus, Winchester, Virginia, People Incorporated, Abingdon, Virginia, two representatives from the Wounded Warrior Program, Vietnam Veteran of America, John Franklin Morrison Jr., Memorial Chapter of Winchester, representative was unable to attend due to an injury, but will be there to support our task force with their organization working with incarcerated veterans.
Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless (AACH) an organization in Northern Virginia that has 30 years of experience in homeless issues and now they want to expand to encamps the veterans population in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, they sent three representatives.

Our mission that we will be challenged with is to facilitate a comprehensive program aimed at providing affordable and accessible housing choices for disabled veterans, throughout Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region. It is our duty and obligation to serve the veterans who served our country with pride and honor, but returned home with a debilitating injury and/or are disabled, with the current economy, their homes, utilities, any issues that they will face not to be homeless. Our vision for the future is to utilize available programs such as VA housing loans, federal and state grants, and other permanent financing tools to assist veterans in their efforts to realize a dream of obtaining a new, accessible home and becoming INDEPENDENT.

Our challenges will be many and hope successful, but we need the veteran to want us and to allow us to assist them, we want the community organizations to step up and provide us with Letters of Support and to state exactly what type of support that they are willing to do for our veterans that will come through the task force when we are successful in obtaining the grant. We will be seeking personnel to help us from the community and will let you know when this becomes available.

Department of Veteran Affairs Key Terms:

1. How does the Program define a “Veteran”?
A “Veteran” is defined as a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released there from under conditions other than dishonorable.

2. How is “Veteran family” defined?
Veteran family means a veteran who is a single person or a family in which the head of household, or the spouse of the head of household, is a veteran.

3. What does “very low-income Veteran family” mean?
Very low-income veteran family means a veteran family whose annual income, as determined in accordance with 24 CFR 5.609, does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for an area or community, as will be adjusted by VA based on family size and as may be adjusted and announced by VA in the Notice of Fund Availability based on residency within an area with unusually high or low construction costs, fair market rents (as determined under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)), or family incomes. Unless VA announces otherwise in the Notice of Fund Availability, the median income for an area or community will be determined using the income limits most recently published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for programs under section 8 of the United
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f).

4. What does “occupying permanent housing” mean?
A very low-income veteran family will be considered to be occupying permanent housing if the very low-income veteran family:
(i) Is residing in permanent housing;
(ii) Is homeless and scheduled to become a resident of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or development of housing suitable for permanent housing; or
(iii) Has exited permanent housing within the previous 90 days to seek other housing that is responsive to the very low-income veteran family’s needs and preferences.

5. What is the definition of “permanent housing”?
“Permanent housing” means community-based housing without a designated length of stay.
Examples of permanent housing include, but are not limited to, a house or apartment with a month-to-month or annual lease term or home ownership.

6. What is a “NOFA”?
A “NOFA” is a Notice of Fund Availability, which is a document that VA will publish in the Federal Register to announce the availability of grant funds for the SSVF Program. The NOFA will describe the location of the grant applications; the date, time, and place for submitting completed applications; the estimated amount and type of funding available; and other information and requirements for the use of the grant funds.

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

7. Who can receive supportive services under the Program?
To receive supportive services under this program, you must be:

A. A member of a Veteran family: A Veteran family is defined as a single person or a family in which the head of household or the spouse of the head of household is a Veteran.

B. Very low-income: Your household income does not exceed 50% of area median
income (as adjusted).

C. “Occupying Permanent Housing:” You either (i) are residing in permanent housing; (ii) are homeless and scheduled to become a resident of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or development of housing suitable for permanent housing; or, (iii) has exited permanent housing within the previous 90 days to seek other housing that is responsive to your needs and preferences.

8. Are Veterans who are single (not part of a family) eligible?
Yes. The definition of “Veteran family” used in the Program includes Veterans who are single and families in which the head of household, or the spouse of the head of household, is a Veteran.

9. What income limits apply to participants under the Program?
To receive supportive services, a Veteran family’s annual income cannot exceed 50% of the area median income.

10. Can Veterans with/without disabilities be served under a Program grant? Can Veterans that have/do not have mental health or substance abuse issues be served under a Program grant?
To receive supportive services, a person must (i) be a Veteran who is a single person, or part of a family in which the head of household or the spouse of the head of household is a Veteran; (ii) have less than 50% area median income; and (iii) fall within one of the three categories of “occupying permanent housing”. Disabilities, mental health or substance abuse issues do not uniquely qualify or disqualify someone from receiving supportive services under the Program.

11. Can families who have a head of household serving on active duty military be served by? the Program?
No, to be eligible for supportive services, the recipient must be a Veteran or a member of a family in which the head of household, or the spouse of the head of household, is a Veteran. A Veteran is someone who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released there from under conditions other than dishonorable.

12. If a Veteran gets divorced while family members are receiving supportive services, must those family members stop receiving supportive services?
No, if a Veteran becomes absent from the household while other members of the family are currently receiving supportive services; the family members can continue to receive supportive services for a grace period. The grace period time will be set by individual grantees and cannot exceed one year.

13. Please explain what category (2) of the “occupying permanent housing” definition means. What does “scheduled” mean?
Category 2 of the “occupying permanent housing” definition is homeless and scheduled to become a resident of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or development of housing suitable for permanent housing. To be “scheduled,” a plan must be in place for the Veteran family to move into permanent housing within 90 days. The plan does not necessarily mean that a lease must be in place, but the plan must be concrete enough that a grantee could certify that a plan is in place for the Veteran family to move into the permanent housing within
90 days.

14. Where would grantees expect to identify very low-income Veteran families residing in? permanent housing who are at-risk of homelessness?

To begin, you may want to look at experiences HUD grantees had implementing the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (“HPRP”). Other resources include housing courts; landlords; rental agencies; PHA waiting lists; churches and other places of worship; domestic violence agencies; boards of education (assistance in identifying children who have been absent from school); legal aid organizations; groups assisting people in foreclosure; energy assistance agencies; and, welfare offices among other places. There are two other areas that may also be important resources to identifying those at risk: (1) VA Medical Centers, and (2) Veterans Benefit Administration offices, which often work with Veterans who identify themselves as in distress and need additional support.

As you see above the challenges will be great and we will be required to assist wherever and whenever is needed, can we all count on you??????????

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WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (December 27, 2011) Many time throughout the year I receive a call about where is a charity that I can send a donation to and I try to provide them with all the information that I could. Well, I heard on TV this morning that a website was developed for you to check and see who you want to donate to and what is there track record. Here is there website:

http://www.charitynavigator.org

Charity Navigator, America’s leading independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the Financial Health and Accountability and Transparency of America’s largest charities.

Hope this is a help to all that want to donate their hard earned funds to a charity to help others.

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One final note to this large December Edition of the Newsletter, I as the Chairman was given a Christmas gift, look at what I am talking about:

Kevin Ball – The “Kevin Ball Band”

Welcome to the Kevin Ball Band web site.

KBB provides searing power blues & rock, fat 3 part harmonies and lyrical soulful guitar playing…

Blues fans all over the region are raving about this smokin’ hot trio!

Come to a live show to see for yourself!

We are proud to announce that we have taken on Disabled Veterans Housing Committee on Housing as an important cause that we will be focusing on in the coming year.

We are in talks currently about fund raising concert dates for 2012- stay tuned for the dates which should be up soon!

Click the link provided to learn more about this organization or to donate.

http://kevinballband.com/fr_medicinewind.cfm

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WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (December 28, 2011)With our economic situation in the world today, there are times that lots of people just want to give up as they are so frustrated that they can’t enough having enough food on their plate because the prices have soared and the dollar just doesn’t stretch that far anymore for their family. Here is a story that happened to one of our very own Committee member.

While shopping at the Martin’s store on Pleasant Valley here in Winchester, I was behind a woman who was obviously in distress because she only had so much to spend on her groceries. She told the cashier that she had to take out of her basket a small ham because she had run out of money.

I asked her if she had served in the military, and she replied no, but her husband, father, and two brothers had all served in the military. Her husband has passed away two months ago.

I handed the cashier a $10 gift card and told him to use all of it for her groceries. She began to cry and thanked me for my kindness. Our members knows what he had done for this lady was a great thing.

As you can see that a little kindness can stretch a mile for someone that really needs it, so let’s all see what we can do for our fellow brothers & sisters out there. I can remember that I was in that ladies shoes a few years back myself, so I know how she felt. God Bless us All.

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I can say so much about what has happen this month and there are more things coming in the New Year, we are keeping our promise that we want to get every homeless veterans into housing and we are having more and more concerts for the community, so please stay tune to our website for what’s to come.

Happy New Years to All

Mission:  To reduce homelessness in the region and to better serve those who are homeless

Resources Available in Northern Shenandoah Valley Area

Emergency Shelters

Domestic Violence Shelters:

Choices – Luray – (540) 743-4414

Harmony Place – Front Royal – (540) 635-9062

Also serves local homeless women & children on emergency basis

Laurel Center – Winchester – (540) 667-6160

Response – Woodstock – (540) 459-5161

Shelters for Men

House of Hope – 724 Warren Avenue, Front Royal – (540) 635-2466

Winchester Union Rescue Union – 435 N. Cameron St, Winchester  - (540) 667-5937.

St. Stephens CME – 424 Chase Street, Winchester – (540) 662-2777

Shelters for Men, Women and Children

Salvation Army – 300 Ft. Collier Rd, Winchester – (540) 450-1555

Intake at 4:00 pm  Alcohol & Drug Screening at Intake

Winter Thermal Shelter

WATTS (Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter) provides a warm, safe place to stay in an area church from 7 pm – 7 am during the winter season.  Supper, snacks, breakfast, and a bag lunch are included.  Must be 18 or older.  You may pick up the schedule and information at C-CAP, 112 S. Kent Street, Winchester.

Transitional Housing

Community Transitional Housing Program – Front Royal – (540) 635-5082 – Referrals must come from shelter program

Harmony Place Transitional Housing – Front Royal – (540) 635-9194 Transitional housing with supportive services for women and children.  Priority given to victims of domestic violence.  Income and services commitments required.

New Eve Ministries – Winchester – (540) 450-0775  Transitional housing for pregnant women age 18 and older (can have other children up to age 5) Open to an expectant mother from any locality

Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter – Maurertown – (540) 436-3202  Priority given to residents of Shenandoah County

Showers

Winchester Union Rescue Mission, 435 N. Cameron Street, Winchester (540) 667-5937

Tuesday – Friday 10:30 am – 11:00 am MEN ONLY

Salvation Army, 300 Ft. Collier Road, Winchester  (540) 450-1555

Saturday  10:00 am – 10:30 am    MEN/WOMEN/CHILDREN

Soup Kitchens – Winchester

Mondays 6 pm Braddock Street United Methodist Church 115 Wolfe St.  - (540) 667-3366

Wednesdays 4:30 pm Knights of Columbus Hall, 519 S. Cameron Street   – (540) 662-5545

Thursdays 5:30 pm Market Street United Methodist Church, 131 S. Cameron – (540) 662-6709

Saturdays 11:30 -1:30 First Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Loudoun Street – (540) 662-3824

Mon.,Wed.,Thur.  11-1pm   Living Faith , Cameron Street - (540) 665-2335

2^nd & 4^th Fridays    12:00 Centenary Church, 204 S. Cameron Street  -  (540) 662-9067

2^nd  & 4^th Monday 4:30-6pm Emmanuel United Meth. Church, off Rt 11, Stephenson  -  (540) 662-1269

Last Wed 5:30-7pm Trinity Lutheran Church, 810 Fairfax Pike, Stephens City   –  (540) 869-4019

Meals Daily  7am-8am, 12pm-12:45pm, 5pm-6pm   Salvation Army, 300 Ft. Collier Rd – (540) 662-4777

Soup Kitchens – Warren County

Tuesday 5pm-6pm Calvary Episcopal Church, N. 2^nd St behind church – (540) 635-2763

Wednesday 5pm-6pm St. John’s Catholic Church, 131 West Main Street – (540) 645-3780

Thursday 5pm-6pm Presbyterian Church, My Brothers Table,115 Luray, Virginia – (540) 735-3894

Mon – Friday 11am-1pm E. Wilson Morrison Elementary – Children and Adults  Free Summer Lunch Program during school weeks.

Food Pantries – City of Winchester and Frederick County

Braddock Street United Methodist Church, 115 Wolfe Street (540) 667-3366  As needed, call for details

C-Cap, 201 Kent Street, (540) 662-4318 Dist. Mon-Thurs 9:30am to 3:30 pm   Food for homeless daily

Centenary United Church of Christ, 202 S. Cameron Street (540) 662-9067  Friday 1pm to 2pm after soup kitchen meal

Celebration Fellowship, 16 N. Braddock Street, (540) 662-4473

1^st & 3^rd Saturdays 9am to 12pm

Church of Christ Mountain View, 1530 Narrow Lane (Kernstown) (540) 869-2244  Wednesday 6:30 am

Highland Memorial Presbyterian Church, 446 Highland Avenue (540) 662-0809  Distribution every Tuesday 9:30 am to 11:30 am

Hope Again, 16 S. Braddock Street, (540) 667-8017  1^st three Saturdays 9 am – 12 pm

Lord Fairfax Area Food Bank   (540) 665-0770

Salvation Army, 300 Ft. Collier Road (540) 662-4777 Distribution Monday through Friday monthly or case basis

St. Stephen CME Church, 202 Maple Street, (540) 665-5244 Once a month, every 3^rd Friday, 11:00 am – 2:30 pm

St. Paul’s Food Pantry, 1527 Senseny Road, (540) 667-8110

Distributing 1^st Sunday of month, 1 pm – 3 pm

Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1508 Valley Avenue, (540) 665-0527

Call for appointment

Victory Church, 2870 Middle Road, (540) 667-9400  Wednesday, 1 pm – 2 pm

Winchester Church of God, 2080 N. Frederick Pike, (540) 667-8017

Third Thursday 1:00 pm

Food Pantries – Stephen’s City

Stephens City Mennonite Church, 5540 Valley Pike, (540) 869-5037

Emergency basis only

Greenway Spirit & Word Fellowship, 1275 Tasker Road, (540) 868-9110

3^rd Wednesday, 9 am – 11 am

Stephens City United Methodist Church, 5291 Main Street, (540) 869-2348

Tues 12 pm – 3 pm, 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Food Pantry – Clearbrook

Welltown United Methodist Church, 1444 Welltown Road (540) 665-0433

Dist. Each Thursday 6 pm – 8 pm

Food Pantries – Clarke County

Women of Duncan Memorial, 219 E. Main Street, (540) 955-3700

3^rd or 4^th Friday of the month, by appointment only

Fish of Clarke County Pantry, P.O. Box 1154, Berryville  Bus. (540) 955-1823

Emerg. (540) 837-1651, Mon. through Fri. 9 am – 5 pm

Christ Episcopal Church, 809 Bishop Mead Road (540) 837-1112

1^st Sat 9 am – 11 am, Tues through Fri 8:30 am – 12 pm

Food Pantries – Warren County

C-Cap, 316 N. Royal Avenue,  (540) 636-2448

Mon through Fri 9 am – 12 pm

Compassion House/The Rock, 1602 Strasburg Rd,   (540) 363-6369

1^st and 3^rd Mondays 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

Dynamic Life, 1600 John Marshall Highway, (540) 636-9595

Thursday 3 pm – 4 pm

Front Royal Church of Christ, 140 W. 15^th Street, (540) 635-2613

Call for appointment

Loving Arms Food Panty “Loaves and Fishes”, 208 John Rice Road (540) 622-2479

Wed 5 pm – 7 pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am – 2 pm

Riverton United Methodist Church, 55 East Strasburg Road   (540) 635-3878

Thursdays. 6 pm – 8 pm

Salvation Army Food Pantry, 357 Cloud Street   (540) 635-4020

Mon through Thursday 9 am – 3:30 pm;  Friday 9 am. – 2:30 pm

Food Pantries – Shenandoah County

Bread of Life, 156 Muhlenberg St., Woodstock  (540) 459-4419, (540) 459-4144

3^rd Tues and Thurs, 1 pm – 4 pm

Columbia Furnace Church of the Brethren, 20910 Sneed Rd, Edinburg,  (540) 459-1632

4^th Saturday, 8:45 am – 11:00 am

Compassion Cupboard, 533 Burgess St., Strasburg, (540) 465-2393, (540) 465-5797

3^rd Tues 10 am – 4 pm

Rock Worship Center, Compassion House, 1602 Strasburg Rd, Strasburg (540) 325-4372

1^st and 3^rd Mon, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

Loaves and Fishes, 9320 Congress Street, New Market   (540) 740-8959

3^rd Thurs.  11:00 am – 5:30 pm

Open Door Food Pantry, Inc., P.O. Box 292, Mt. Jackson,  (540) 740-8025

3^rd Thurs., 1 pm – 6 pm

Food Pantries – Page County

Page One, 42 W. Main Street, Luray (540) 743-4357  Mon and Tues, 9 am – 11:30 am

Departments of Social Services

City of Winchester, 24 Baker Street, Winchester        (540) 662-3807

Clarke County, 311 E. Main Street, Berryville            (540) 955-3700

Frederick County, 107 N. Kent Street, Winchester     (540) 665-5688

Page County, 215 W. Main St., Suite A, Stanley         (540) 778-1053

Shenandoah County, 600 N. Main Street, Woodstock   (540) 459-6226

Warren County, 912 Warren Avenue, Front Royal      (540) 635-3967

Free Medical and Dental Clinics, Medication Assistance

Free Medical Clinic of the No. Shenandoah Valley, 301 N. Cameron Street, Suite 100 Winchester, (540) 536-1680  By appt,  $5 per office visit, $4 per medication

Shenandoah County Free Medical and Dental Clinic, 781 Spring Parkway, Woodstock, (540) 459-1700 Fee Varies. Medical – Thurs. evening; Dental – Tues. evening

St. Luke’s Community Clinic, 316 N. Royal Avenue, Front Royal  (540) 636-4325  Free to those meeting income eligibility requirements

Dental Clinic of Northern Shenandoah Valley, at the Free Clinic in Winchester, 301 N. Cameron St, (540) 536-1680, by appt. only.  Provides free dental services for Children with Medicaid/FAMIS/FAMIS Plus.  Fee for adults.

Page Free Clinic, 732 E. Main Street, Luray   (540) 743-4873

Open Fridays 5pm – 8pm

Kool Smiles – 2065 S. Pleasant Valley Rd., Winchester (540) 931-0294

Takes Medicaid

Compassion Pharmacy – in Rite-Aid, 507 Amherst Rd., (540) 722-2021

(clients must be seeing a doctor with privileges to Valley Health)

Medication – Patients Assistance Programs – Through your doctor or call your drug  company directly.

Eyeglasses – Lions Club (540) 955-6229

Health Departments

Clarke County (540) 955-1033

Frederick/Winchester (540) 722-3470

Page County – Luray (540) 743-6528

Shenandoah County (540) 459-3733

Warren County (540) 635-315

Crisis Services

911

Concern Hotline

Winchester/Frederick/Clarke (540) 667-0145

Warren County           (540) 635-4357

Page County (540) 743-3733

Shenandoah County (540) 459-4742

Northwestern Community Services Board, offices in Front Royal, Winchester,

Woodstock and Luray                        (540) 636-4250

VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans  1-877-424-3838

National Suicide Hotline     (800) 784-2433

Legal Assistance

Blue Ridge Legal Services, 303 S. Loudoun St., Suite D, Winchester  (540) 662-5021

Services for Veterans

VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans   1-877-424-3838

VA Domiciliary – Homeless, Substance Abuse, PTSD, Work Program

510 Butler Ave., Martinsburg, WV (304) 263-0811 ext 4596, Scott Wagaman

WV Division of Veterans Affairs – Service Officer (301) 538-2839,  Carol Hefner

Northwestern Community Services – Wounded Warrior Program

209 Criser Rd., Front Royal (540) 636-4250

Virginia Employment Commission – Job assistance for Veterans

(540) 722-3415  Mike Barnes

Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing – (703) 626-9027  Robert

Flynn

American Legion – Veterans and families. Funds for expenses (apply in writing)

Post 21, 1730 Berryville Pike, Winchester (540) 662-9501

Post 41, 20A S. Church St., Berryville   HYPERLINK “mailto:post41@comcast.net” post41@comcast.net

Post 53, 22 W. 8^th St., Front Royal           (540) 635-5017

Post 77, 157 E. Washington St., Strasburg (540) 465-8167

Post 199, 411 S. Muhlenberg St., Woodstock     (540) 459-2241

Virginia State Department                     (804) 353-6606

VFWs – provide emergency assistance, request in writing

Post 2123, 200 Sulky Dr.,Winchester (540) 868-9992

Post 6044, 542 Eagle Dr., Winchester (540) 667-8519

Post 9760, PO Box 331, Berryville (540) 955-1119

Post 1860, 1847 N. Royal Ave., Front Royal  (540) 635-9024

Post 2447, 100 Veterans Way, Edinburg (540) 984-4355

Post 621, 218 Veterans Lane, Luray (540) 743-3877

Vietnam Veterans of America – emergency monies, needs DD214 and couple weeks to

Verify (540) 514-0663 Ronald Hafey (540) 869-2588 Arnie Eversen

Dept. of Veterans Services – help with Compensation and Pension Claims

11 Water St., Front Royal (540) 635-4201, Geoffrey White/Barbara Bruce

Disabled American Veterans 9 – help with Compensation and Pension Claims  (540) 888-3354, Chance Bazzano (540) 868-1019, Jim Stephens

VA Grants and Per Diem Program – per diem monies for bed/nursing home 510 Butler Ave., Martinsburg, WV   (304) 263-0811 ext.3840, Amy Bayliss

Able Forces – Veteran-owned non-profit, an Ability One/NISH company, defined as a Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP).  The Mission of Able Forces is to provide Employment and community-based job preparation training exclusively to our Wounded Warriors and Disabled Veterans.

Employment – Education

Virginia Employment Commission, 100 Premier Pl., Winchester  (540) 722-3415  Two weekly workshops, resume consulting, mock interviews, job coaching  Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services – must be diagnosed with a disability,

Helps find and keep jobs and increase level of independence

20 Ricketts Drive, Winchester (540) 722-3453

Workforce Job Center, Inc., 7718 Main Street, Middletown   (540) 508-0839

Computer lab, jobs posted weekly, help with resumes, copier, fax,

Workshops twice a month, Serves Winchester, Clarke and Frederick County

Six month residency requirement.

Workforce Job Center, Inc., 1230 E. Main Street, Luray

(540) 743-4320

Same services as Middletown office

First Step Interfaith Alliance, 2333 Roosevelt Blvd., Winchester

(540) 662-3300

Proactive training, resources and mentoring

GED – Dowell J. Howard Center – Winchester – (540) 662-8997

Literacy Volunteers – Shenandoah County  (540) 459-2446

Literacy Volunteers – Winchester, Frederick, Clarke  (540) 536-1648

Resources for those with Disabilities

Access Independence, services for those with disabilities,

324 Hope Drive, Winchester         (540) 662-4452

AIDS Response Effort (ARE), services for those with HIV/AIDS

333 W. Cork Street, #740, Winchester (540) 536-5290

Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services – helps find and keep jobs and increase  Level of independence, 20 Ricketts Drive, Winchester - (540) 722-3453

Northwestern Community Services, mental health, substance abuse, mental retardation,

Children’s services

209 W. Criser Rd, Front Royal – (540) 636-4250

158 Front Royal Pike, Winchester – (540) 667-8888

441 N. Main Street, Woodstock – (540) 459-5180

23 W. Main Street, Luray – (540) 743-4548

Social Security Administration 1-866-331-2320 (press 0 for Winchester)

Housing Assistance Programs

The Salvation Army – HIP Program (Homeless Intervention Program) assists with first month’s rent and deposit for those who have been evicted, have received eviction notices or are homeless. Once in a lifetime assistance.  Must meet HUD guidelines for low income.  Serves Clarke County, City of Winchester, Frederick County, Warren County and Shenandoah County – (540) 662-4777 Pat Purtlebaugh

Mercy House – HIP Program (Homeless Intervention Program) assists with first month’s rent and deposit for those who have been evicted, have received eviction notices or are homeless.  Must meet guidelines for low income.  Once in a lifetime assistance.  Serves Page County.   (540) 432-1812

Northwestern Community Services – Supportive Housing Program.  Provides supportive services for homeless individuals with disabilities of mental illness, substance abuse or HIV/AIDS and homeless families with dependent children.  Must meet HUD guidelines for very low income.  Funds may be available for first month’s rent for qualifying clients.  Call (540) 665-8900, extension 1 or 1217.

Harmony Place – Front Royal – (540) 635-9194  Rapid re-housing/transition in place services until June 30, 2012.  Assistance with rent, security deposit, utility arrears, and utility deposit expenses related to moving into new permanent housing.  This program is for homeless women and children in Warren County.

Shenandoah Alliance for Shelter (Homeless Prevention Program) provides assistance with rent and deposits through a low interest loan.  For residents of Shenandoah County only.  (540) 436-3202

Habitat for Humanity, Winchester (540) 662-7066

Section 8 – Office for Housing and Neighborhood Development – Clarke and Frederick

Counties and the City of Winchester – (540) 535-2886

Section 8 – Shenandoah County DSS – Shenandoah, Page & Warren  (540) 459-6226

Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing (540) 877-1252.  Help veterans obtain grants from the Veterans Affaisrs SAH Office for those who are 100% service connected disabled and  have contacted with local builders, financial management companies and others that can build your medically custom home to have your INDEPENDENCE returned.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Northwestern Community Services

209 W. Criser Road, Front Royal (540) 636-4250

158 Front Royal Pike, Winchester (540) 667-8888

441 N. Main Street, Woodstock (540) 459-5180

23 W. Main Street, Luray (540) 743-4548

Alcoholics Anonymous/Al Anon/Alateen (540) 667-0322

Addiction Helpline (540) 559-9503

Edgehill Recovery Retreat, 315 Cork St., Winchester (540) 772-8865

Lord Fairfax House, 512 S. Braddock St., Winchester (540) 662-8877

Isaiah 58 Project, 437 Highland St., Winchester (540) 662-2336

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Winchester (540) 533-1832

Celebrate Recovery, Winchester of God

2080 N. Frederick Pike, Winchester (540) 667-8017

NA/AA Meetings      (540) 667-0322   or (800) 835-6130

If you have children

Healthy Families

301 N. Cameron St., Winchester (540) 536-1660

295 Front Royal Pike, Winchester (540) 536-4113

294 E. Main, Stanley (540) 667-0322 or (800) 835-6130

Front Royal (540) 636-0539

Head Start

Frederick, Winchester, Clarke (540) 869-1558

Page (540) 652-1274

Shenandoah (540) 459-2439

Warren (540) 948-3916

Services for Homeless Children through McKinney-Vento Act

Clarke County Public Schools Lisa Floyd (540) 757-547-0153  x170

Frederick County Public Schools Mitch Peeling (540) 662-3888  x88145

Page County Public Schools John Van Wyck (540) 843-2822

Shenandoah County Public Schools   Robert Belyea (540) 459-6716

Warren County Public Schools   Michael Hirsch (540) 635-2725

Winchester Public Schools Natalie Gerometta (540) 667-4258  x 65120

Pregnancy

ABBA – Pregnancy Center         (540) 722-4944

See New Eve Ministries under Transitional Housing

Clothing, food, financial assistance

C-CAP

12 S. Kent Street, Winchester (540) 662-4318

115-117 Luray Ave., Front Royal (540) 636-2448

Salvation Army

300 Ft. Collier Road, Winchester (540) 662-4777

357 Cloud St., Front Royal (540) 635-4020

Page One

42 W. Main Street, Luray (540) 743-4357

600 Comer Lane, Shenandoah           (540) 652-8780

Mount Jackson Transient Fund

Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church (540) 477-2421

Edinburg Transient Fund (540) 984-9260

Fish, Clarke County (540) 955-1823

Second Chance Saturday (540) 662-3300

(Grace Community Church)

Budgeting and Financial Services

Consumer Credit Counseling Services of NOVA (800) 747-4222

Virginia Cooperative Extension Service

Clarke (540) 955-5164

Frederick/Winchester (540) 955-5164

Page           (540) 748-5694

Shenandoah (540) 459-6140

Warren (540) 635-4549

Transportation

Logisticare (Medicaid)         (866) 386-8331

Winchester Transit (540) 667-1815

Para-transit (disabilities) (540) 667-1815

Front Royal Area Transit (540) 635-5788

Page County Transit (800) 305-0077

Northwestern Community Services sponsors this resource booklet.

For changes and additions, please contact Nickie Wheeler at (540) 636-2931 ext 2302

December 2011

we were starting, but the years are going by so fast that we would never believe that soon we will be saying “Happy New Years”.

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US Navy “Country Currents”

MARTINSBURG VA MEDICAL CENTER (November 11, 2011): On this brisk fall day, we Americans take time to remember our men and women that have served our country; some have given the ultimate sacrifice. The members of the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing and the Father Robert O. Hickman Assembly #1883 planned a very special surprise for the veterans of Martinsburg VA Medical Center by arranging the appearance of the US Navy “Country Currents”, a Bluegrass ensemble of Navy personnel that travel and perform to bring awareness of our military.

(Left) Knights of Columbus Assembly’s Faithful Navigator Lou Moschetto and one of our veterans from the US Marine Corp Alfred Mazzoli, PGK, PFN, PDD, a reunion and maybe some swapping of stories of their times in the service.

This seven member ensemble employs musicians from diverse backgrounds with extensive high-profile recording and touring experience in the music scenes of Nashville, Tenn., New York City, New Orleans and more. In the tradition of country music, each member is a skilled performer on multiple instruments. The band utilizes banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, fiddle, electric bass, upright bass, dobro, pedal steel guitar and drum set.All of our members and the veterans that attended were toe tapping to the rhythm of the music. It was one way to show them how much we appreciate what they have done.

TO ALL OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN VETERANS HOSPITALS: This day is set aside each year to honor and remember all of our brothers & Sisters in arms that have gone before us; it’s a great sense of humility that the members of the Knights of Columbus and the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing, came to Martinsburg VA Medical Center to say “Thank you veteran”

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DAYTON, VIRGINIA (November 19, 2011) This time of the year for a good majority of us start thinking about having our relatives and friends over to our home to celebrate to start off the countdown to Christmas with Thanksgiving Day, and with shops opening at midnight for those early bird shoppers for Black Friday.

We also look at the ones that can’t get out and do the necessary preparations for this day, but the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing and the Father Robert O. Hickman Assembly #1883 of the Knights of Columbus were on the road traveling to a vendor, Cargill’s Turkey Products to pick up turkey’s that were being donated to our veterans and community residents that are presently on extreme hard times with our economy that they can’t afford to feed their family the necessities of the Season.

Two members of the Knights of Columbus Chapter #3752, Mr. Robert Flynn and Willie Connolly (In the photo)made the trip and were presently surprised when they arrived and were greeted by Angie Polk, Chair, Cargill’s Donations, being on hand to help us get through the plant and pick up their donation for the veterans.

Cargill Turkey Products as busy as their Season comes and with the entire request that are submitted to them for donation, we feel

pride and humility for them selecting our needs this year. Many of the Cargill

workers are veterans and it’s was a small way for them to say “Thank you veteran, for all you did for us and our country”.

Cargill Turkey Products, from all the veterans and the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing and the Father Robert O. Hickman Assembly #1883, Knights of Columbus, Winchester, Virginia our appreciation and gratitude for making this Thanksgiving for many that need you and your workers support.

We also would like to express our thanks to two of our local vendors as when they found out that we were going to pick up the turkey’s in Dayton, Virginia a local vendor came to our assistance and donated a refrigerated truck to make the trip a lot better

for all the turkey’s and of course our people. That company was Gore’s Processing Plant, Edinburg, Virginia. Mr. Joe Gore, President, thank you for your assistance.

Also to our friends Brian K. Beazer, & Michelle Gordon and the Staff at Winchester Cold Storage for storing the turkey’s for all of us in the community.

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(Left) One of our chef’s makes sure the sauce is just right

WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (November 27, 2011) Every year at this time we always think about grandma’s house and the smell of the apple pie in the oven or sitting down to a plate of SPAGHETTI, yes I said it right. The Knights of Columbus Council #3572 had their Spaghetti Dinner, at James Wood High School and it was a tremendous success.

There were many who thought, wow spaghetti two days after Thanksgiving, its turkey season, well I guess the word got out that there was no turkey at this meal. Many of the Knights made deliveries to our community home bound parishioners and to many of our veteran families in the community.

(Right) Our young man is hard at work tossing the pasta, maybe he’s our next chef.

Bob Flynn, Director, Veterans Outreach for the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing and also a member of the Knights of Columbus told me the other day, while delivering turkeys that were obtain this year for our veterans and community, he was making a delivery to a veterans home and he was just ready to leave, a young member of the family came up and gave him a great big hug. Bob, felt an enormous feeling throughout himself as he said silently, “Thanksgiving too many of our families is survival, and I feel this sense of being blessed to bring this gift to them”.

I am leaving you with some of the highlights that made this day with all of you, and the many Knights that took their weekend to make our community/veterans event such a success:

]]> http://dvchvets.org/newsletters/committee%e2%80%99s-newsletter-for-november-2011/feed/ 0 http://dvchvets.org/newsletters/committee%e2%80%99s-newsletter-for-october-2011/ http://dvchvets.org/newsletters/committee%e2%80%99s-newsletter-for-october-2011/#comments Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:54:02 +0000 admin http://dvchvets.org/?p=1818 Here we go, the weather is totally changing like from day to day, I can’t remember ever having a snowfall in October and we had 5 inches here in Winchester, Virginia. Wherever you are in this great nation, I hope that you remain safe and watch the roads on days like today.

MIDDLETOWN, VIRGINIA (October 4, 2011) One of the many things that make this job so good is to hear where local community organizations, colleges, or just the veterans themselves for what their hard work and the College provides, just as I hear and been told that schooling is hard work.

Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) received word that they had been recognized by G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School for 2012. This designation is the result of research into the policies of 8,000 postsecondary institutions by G.I. Jobs. The magazine focuses on helping military troops in their transition to civilian life. To be designated, a school must make the top 20 percent of schools that have taken additional action to help returning veterans.

At LFCC, we consider helping veterans and their dependents achieve their educational goals to be an important service,” stated Tina Anderson, Military/Veterans’ Coordinator at LFCC. “We are committed to ensuring that they receive the support towhich they are entitled.” In talking with Ms Anderson today, I found out that she has a phrase she came across and it really sums up the whole concept, see what you think,

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

For more information about LFCC’s program for veterans and their families, contact Tina Anderson at (540) 868-7107 or tanderson@lfcc.edu

Tina Anderson (left) and LFCC President Cheryl Thompson-Stacy display the Certificate they were given from G. I. Jobs Magazine. (Photo by Scott Mason, Winchester Star)

What also make this a special event were two female veterans that attend the Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC) Veterans program that is provided and their thought on what this program means to them and what they feel about attending the College.

Melanie Thornberg was in the Coast Guard for nine years when she decided to go wanted to go back to school.

“I went from someone telling me what to wear and what to eat to being on my own,” she said. “You don’t even know what to wear on the first day of being a civilian.”

Lord Fairfax Community College made the transition easier, according to the 33-year-old mother of three. The college offered her the help of a veterans representative to connect her to services, and disability accommodations, which included ways to complete classes at home and provided injury-sensitive desks and chairs. “Not too many places recognize and appreciate vets,” she said. “But LFCC does.” Thornberg is not the only one to recognize LFCC’s veteran services.

Military veterans Tina Daniels (left) and Melanie Thornberg talk about how Lord Fairfax Community College has helped them. (Photo by Scott Mason, Winchester Star)

Tina Daniels, 47, was in the Navy for three years when she arrived at LFCC. Her story is similar to Thornberg’s. She, too, received disability accommodations for her post traumatic stress disorder, including extra time on tests, along with counseling and help from staff.

“Professors really do work with you on your disabilities,” she said. “Despite the fact that I have a disability, I’m still able to go to school.”

To be designated, a school must make the top 20 percent of schools that have taken additional action to help returning veterans. “It’s about how to get military experience translated into college credit,” said Tina Anderson, assistant registrar and the LFCC vet rep.

LFCC offers scholarships and tuition discounts to military students and veterans and in-state tuition without residency requirements for military students and dependants. The school also allows military students who are called to active service return without penalty and offers financial assistance to military spouses.

LFCC also provides support and social services to its vets, including counselors to help with career placement, a group to plan campus and social networking events for veterans, and a veteran-specific page on its website. LFCC is one of 1,900 colleges and universities that belong to the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges Consortium – a group of military-friendly institutions with flexible policies that allow mobile service members and their families to complete degrees rather than just accumulate course credit.

We at the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing say that congratulations go to both groups, first Lord Fairfax Community College for being the receiptants of the recognition by the G. I. Jobs magazine, and for our veterans attending school that they feel so secure with their medical issues that the College provides for all their needs while attending classes and provide whatever assistance the veterans need in their courses. Congratulations and job well done for all involved.

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Portsmouth-based soldier dies in Iraq

Staff Sgt. James R. Leep died on Oct. 17

BABIL PROVINCE, IRAQ (WAVY) - The National Guard confirmed Tuesday that Staff Sgt. James R. Leep died of non-combat related injuries in Babil Province, Iraq on October 17. Leep, 44, was based in Portsmouth with the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team. Leep served as a combat engineer and construction equipment supervisor. He was re-assigned to Troop A as a truck commander for the unit’s convoy security mission. Lepp was also the commander of a convoy escort team. “It is very sad that this has happened and difficult to think of the appropriate words to say

that would relieve the pain and suffering hat his family feels,” said Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia. “Soldier and family care are very important, and we intend to do everything we can to support his family and the men and women that deployed with him. We ask that his community and the rest of Virginia keep his family in their prayers in their time of grief”. Leep of Davenport, Virginia is survived by his wife and two adult children’s; He joined the National Guard in April 1986.

Leep first joined the National Guard in April 1986 and served on active duty from December 1987 to August 1995 as a light-wheeled vehicle mechanic, the Virginia National Guard news release said. He rejoined in January 1996 and worked as a combat engineer and construction equipment supervisor. He worked full time as surface maintenance repairer technician for the Virginia National Guard at field maintenance shop #14 in Richland’s.

His previous deployments include Bosnia from September 2001 to April 2002, Iraq from December 2003 to March 2005, the southwest U.S. border security mission from June to August 2006, and Afghanistan from November 2008 to January 2010. More than 825 soldiers from across Virginia were deployed to Iraq this summer as Task Force 183 under the command of the Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Calvary Regiment. They are conducting convoy security and base defense operations. After training at Camp Atterbury for almost two months, the unit arrived in Iraq at the end of July.

The Portsmouth squadron, which includes units from Norfolk, Suffolk and Virginia Beach, will be joined by two companies of soldiers from Fredericksburg and a third from

Christiansburg. This was the single largest Virginia Army National Guard unit mobilization since Sept. 11, 2001.

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The reporting of our brave men and women that serves our great nation each and every day and to hear that one of them has fallen in our latest conflict, I feel that we at the Disabled Veterans Committee on Housing are honoring them with their story and we salute them and want their families to know that we care and offer our condolences to them.

See you next month.

November 3, 2011

A MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Today, I would like to introduce VA for Vets, an outstanding new program to help our Veterans find appropriate careers at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Set to launch on November 11, Veterans Day, VA for Vets takes a high-tech and high-touch approach to recruiting, hiring, retaining, and reintegrating Veterans into the VAworkforce. Aspartofitshigh-techsolution,theprogramoffersstateoftheartonline tools for Veterans as they seek employment or look to further career development

opportunities. The online Career Center includes: a military skills translator that translates military skills into civilian language; a resume builder that tailors Veterans’ resumes so they can more easily compete for open positions in VA; and avatar-based technology that connects deployed Servicemembers back to VA during their operational missions.

The high-touch solution comes in the form of career and reintegration coaches who are readily available to help Veterans and Servicemembers take full advantage of opportunities offered through the Career Center or to ensure a seamless transition into the VA workforce. Three new Coaching Call Centers will be operational in Dumfries, Virginia; Ebensburg, Pennsylvania; and New Orleans, Louisiana, starting October 26.

As Vice-Chair of President Obama’s Veteran Employment Council, I am confident that VA can set the standard for Veterans’ recruitment and career developmentatotherFederalagencies. VAforVetsispartofalargerstrategicinitiative led by the newly established Veteran Employment Services Office (VESO) within the Office of Human Resources and Administration. I have set a goal for VA to increase its Veteran workforce from 30 percent to 40 percent, and VESO will be at the forefront of that effort, working with all offices and administrations, to ensure we achieve our goals.

The VA for Vets program represents a commitment to transforming the way we hire and retain our Veterans. This program requires the personal commitment of all VA employees so we can uphold our sacred trust and moral obligation to care for those Mwho have borne the battle.”

- Eric K. Shinseki

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a partnership with Milicruit.com to sponsor a nationwide, virtual online job fair on Nov. 10, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. EST.

“As we work to help Veterans find good paying jobs, it is important that we take advantage of online resources that connect our Veterans with employers around the Nation who want to hire these highly qualified and experienced men and women,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

To date, more than 60 military-friendly national employers from both the private and federal sectors and more than 36,000 Veterans have registered to participate in the all day online event.

Veterans can pre-register at http://www.veteranscareerfair.com for this event. On the day of the event, Veterans can log in and visit employer booths, view job openings, apply for jobs, watch employer videos and presentations, chat live with recruiters, and complete on-the-spot video interviews.

They can also interact with VetSuccess counselors to learn more about VA benefits, as well as additional resources and tools for transitioning Servicemembers and family members regarding training, employment, and independent living.

VA’s VetSuccess.gov website offers services by providing access to a job board of more than 8 million job openings, as well as tools for Veterans to build or upload resumes and for employers to search for Veterans who match their recruiting needs.

“Using technology allows us to connect excellent Veteran job seekers with businesses in need of the leadership, discipline, skills, and training that Veterans bring to the workplace,” said Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey.

The job fair not only connects employers with Veterans who are a match for their staffing needs, but also allows Veterans to visit the VA’s virtual help desk to obtain information about VA benefits.

Benefits include the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment VetSuccess program, which provides job training and placement skills for transitioning Servicemembers and Veterans.

For more information on the job fair go to http://www.va.gov and click on VA’s Facebook site or go to http://www.vetsuccess.gov.

Veterans filing claims may file online through eBenefits, a joint project between the Department of Defense and VA, at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits- portal/ebenefits.portal. They can check the status of their claim with a Premium account, and use a growing number of online services.

Veterans may enroll in eBenefits and obtain a Premium account in-person or online depending on their status. Information on how to register is available on the eBenefits Registration web page at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits- portal/ebenefits.portal?_nfpb=true&_portlet.async=false&_pageLabel=RegistrationOverview

TO OUR BROTHER’s & SISTER’s IN ARMS: If no one has ever mentioned to you how proud, honored and how much we appreciated what you did for us and our families, I say it to you now, as one veteran to another. “Thank you from me and my family from the bottom of our hearts”, you were there when we needed you and many people just didn’t feel that you did anything, well that is so very wrong. You gave and now people have let you down and you are where you are, maybe you prefer it to be that way, but I want you to just feel that I don’t like to see anyone out on the streets, in fields, under underpasses by the highway, but I am only one person, but I will be there to help you if I can, so please, just use my website and I will answer you and see where I can help, and I promise that I will do what I can, as I have helped over 240 veterans so far, and I will continue to as long as I have breath in my body. Let me hear from you, fill in my form on the web or get someone to do it for you, and I will respond………….God Bless You.

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WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA (September 11, 2011) As you neared Route 50 East you would hear the roar of the engines of the riders that were getting ready to do a 150 mile trip called “Ride a Mile for Able Forces”, the event was sponsored and arranged by Skip Rogers and his lovely wife, Kathy at Grove’s Harley Davidson, Winchester, Virginia.

The day started off with the Massanutten Military Academy Color Guard and the Frederick County Fireman presenting the Colors to start of the program, then the Invocation from the Chaplain, all were then asked to observe a moment of silence to remember all those brave men and women who had perished in the most horrific and tragic day in September 2001, we were treated as a way that we all express ourselves, we heard a rendition of our most special song perform , the National Anthem delivered by a Professor of Music from the Shenandoah University Conservatory, registration of the drivers for the ride started at 9AM and from what you can see in the photo’s the Able Forces Motorcycle was being signed by all the riders for this Event, say “Yes we Care and are proud to be an American”.

The cyclist departed at 11AM there was very special moment that took place along the ride and that all of the motorcycles wanted to pay their respects to our hospitalized veterans, so they decided to do a ride thru the Martinsburg VA Medical Center with as many veterans the that could were treated by this salute from the riders, that was a extremely moving feeling of pride for all that where there to experience this moment.

Our good friend, Sam Tate (Poet Laureate/Songwriter) from Nashville, TN Sam is a true friend to all veterans and he brought just a few of his friends, Trent Hasty, Tom Miserendino, Phoenix Drive.

What would a promotional Guts & Glory Event be without the celebrity hostess herself?

Miss Guts & Glory: Michelle Murray.

Michelle performs an acoustic version of her original song dedicated to Indy Car Driver and now team owner Sam Schmidt during a live rehearsal at Music City Bar & Grill in Nashville. The song is titled “It’s Not If But When” (Sam’s Song) Michelle is a spokesperson for the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: I am sorry that the DVCH Committee Newsletter wasn’t publish onto the website last month, because I have been recuperating from major surgery on my left leg in the later part of July and I some complications of an infection which it has taken me awhile to get back to where I can function more on a daily basis, so I apology to all for that had looked forward to reading the newsletter and I will be continuing again with the DVCH’s information to you as the month ends.

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Our Fallen Hero’s Memorial

Specialist Douglas J. Green Killed In Afghanistan

(Aug. 29, 2011) – Friends and family are calling Potomac Falls High School grad Doug Green an American Hero after the Department of Defense said he was killed Sunday in Afghanistan when his unit came under attack.

Spc. Douglas J. Green, 23, of Sterling, died Aug. 28 in Kandahar province of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

A memorial page on Facebook has been set up for Green and tributes are pouring in from Loudoun and afar as people remember the young man with a great smile, amazing sense of humor and a love of his country that led him into the military.

Green’s grandfather on Facebook, Jay Chabrow: “While I’m totally devastated you were taken from us at such an early age, I couldn’t be prouder. You are truly my hero.”

Another person wrote: “Clearly, you cared about every person you knew and that speaks volume. Thank you so much for your service, you are an American hero. You will forever be missed.

Posted by Dan Sousa

Spc. Douglas J. Green, 23, of Sterling, died Aug. 28 in Kandahar province of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

People could not stop recalling good things on Tuesday night about Douglas J. Green, who grew up in Northern Virginia and was known for caring about his high school and its students and teachers and the community that surrounded it.

He also cared about his country, and shortly after graduation from Potomac Falls High School in Sterling, he joined the Army.

“It’s pretty devastating,” said his aunt, Stacy Dinkel. “Doug was one of the nicest human beings on the face of the Earth. He was an amazing person.”

In the hours after news of his death began to spread, hundreds of people posted remembrances on a Facebook page created in his memory.

“Everybody loved Doug,” said his mother, Suni Erlanger. “Everybody loved him.”

Chad Runfola, who was an assistant principal at Potomac Falls while Green was there, recalled that he “was just so genuinely nice to others.”

He “always communicated a sense of caring for his teachers, his classmates and his school,” Runfola said.

In the eastern Loudoun County community, “this was a very special young man,” said John P. Murray, a Newspaper Association of America executive and Loudoun resident.

“He was a pretty selfless kid,” said David Spage, who was principal at Potomac Falls during Green’s years there. His ethic of service was such that “when he decided he wanted to go serve his country, it wasn’t a surprise.”

His family had tried to dissuade him from enlisting, his mother said. His maternal grandfather, Jay Chabrow, a technology consultant, said he wanted Green to work for him. But, Erlanger said, “he loved his country and nothing was going to stop him.”

Green was “my hero,” Chabrow said.

After enlisting in 2007, Green served a tour in Iraq. He was sent to Afghanistan in April as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Family members said he had played football at Potomac Falls, probably as much out of a sense of obligation to the school as anything else. He was also prominent in drama, and, his mother said, he “played the bad guy” in a school production of “Footloose.”

Many remembered Green for his sense of humor. He was “quite a character,” Spage said. His mother thought that made him something of an atypical soldier. “He was a stand-up comedian,” she said.

Even in difficult times for Green and his unit in Afghanistan, Erlanger said, “he made them all laugh.” In times of peril, she said, Green would assure his fellow soldiers “that everything’s going to be okay.”

Erlanger said her son’s enlistment was to be up before the end of the year. She said he planned to return home and marry his sweetheart, attend college, work for the Secret Service or the CIA and, perhaps, enter politics.

Other survivors include his father, Douglas Green of Sterling, and two sisters.

“You were an awesome dude,” read one comment on the memorial Facebook page. “You always knew how to make me feel better,” read another.

“You impacted so many lives with your goodness, humor, and positive attitude,” read yet another. “You had an inexplicable way of drawing people toward you.”