Volunteers Building Veterans Homes and Healing

United Way Day of Action offers helping hand around the county

Frederick News Post

Cameron Dodd

October 6, 2017

“Building Veterans and finding the Lord have been the biggest blessings in my life. They’ve supported me and given me a chance to become part of the community, of society. That’s what I needed. My tendency was to say I can handle everything on my own. But that’s the lie I was telling myself.” Ray Nickleson

Volunteers from AstraZeneca do landscaping work on a house for homeless men in Brunswick on Friday as part of the United Way’s 2017 Day of Action.
News-Post photo by Cameron Dodd 

More than 300 volunteers worked on dozens of projects around the county on Friday as part of the United Way of Frederick County’s sixth annual Day of Action.

The volunteers worked an estimated 1,802 service hours combined, according to Shana Knight, United Way of Frederick County’s community engagement manager.

“We’re grateful for all the work they’ve done and hope we can get them to join us again,” said Bob Wyatt, executive director of the Brunswick nonprofit organization Building Veterans. Wyatt’s program was joined by 25 volunteers Friday to help clean up and landscape a house that seven homeless men will move into later this year.

“It’s been a really great help,” he said. 
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Green Beret Records Challenged After Volunteering Award

Red Cross volunteer's story challenged by Vietnam Veterans groups, individuals
Tulsa World
By Rita Sherrow
World Scene Writer
February 2, 2016

Vietnam War veteran John Smith, leaning next to the Disaster Relief vehicle he staffed during one of the California wildfires, pays it forward as a volunteer with the Tulsa chapter of the American Red Cross. After being lost in a Vietnam jungle for almost three months, it was the Red Cross that helped him let his family know he was alive.
JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

A Tulsa World story that profiled a Red Cross volunteer in October brought numerous questions and protests from Vietnam veteran military groups.

John Smith, a Red Cross volunteer who was nominated for an award with the Tulsa Area United Way, identified himself as a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran who served more than 20 years in military service.

The veterans group Green Beret Posers Exposed and others immediately challenged Smith’s story.

The Tulsa World has tried repeatedly since October to talk to Smith, advising him the story was being challenged and to verify his military record. He claimed health issues and other reasons for not answering repeated requests for another interview.

Green Beret Posers Exposed has supplied the Tulsa World with military documents, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, that indicate Smith was never in Special Forces and only served in the military for a limited time (U.S. Army 1970-1972 and U.S. Navy 1974-1975). Additionally, records show Smith receiving medals for serving in Vietnam, although he was never a Green Beret or member of the Special Forces.
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Vietnam War veteran gives back to Red Cross that helped him in his time of need

Ark. Guard not using soldier-aid funds

Ark. Guard not using soldier-aid funds

The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Aug 24, 2009 5:13:03 EDT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A fund set up at the direction of state lawmakers in 2005 to receive donations from taxpayers for soldiers and their families has gone largely ignored by the Arkansas National Guard, despite a $65,000 balance.

The law setting up the Military Relief Trust Fund designated the Arkansas National Guard as the agency in charge of distributing the money gathered from people who checked off a box on their income tax returns authorizing the state to put $1 of their money into the fund.

The Legislature has appropriated to the National Guard $50,000 each year since 2007 to operate the fund. But neither the operating funds nor the donated money has been touched. The National Guard hasn’t even set up procedures for getting the money into the hands of needy soldiers or their families.

Command Sgt. Maj. Deborah Collins of the Arkansas National Guard said the money is not immediately needed, because a United Way fund provides loans and grants to needy Reserve and National Guard families.
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Ark. Guard not using soldier aid funds

Veteran Support A Phone Call Away, Says Gayle Kagen

Veteran Support A Phone Call Away, Says Gayle Kagen
(GREEN BAY, WI) — Continuing their work to find ways to improve veterans’ lives, Gayle Kagen and the Brown County United Way today spread the word about 2-11 call centers serving as a single national point of contact for veterans and their families seeking counseling and other services.

“We are working hard to make sure that those who have served our country bravely and their families receive the benefits they deserve,” Mrs. Kagen said. “Brown County United Way and Brown Country Veterans Services provide incredible support for our local veterans. With 2-11, that support is just a phone call away.”

Mrs. Kagen was joined at the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Green Bay by Lisa Clark from the Brown County United Way.

Gayle Kagen, the wife of Congressman Steve Kagen, is president of the Freshman Congressional Spouses Class of the 110th Congress. After visiting Walter Reed Hospital, she brought together the United Way and the National Military Families Association to discuss how 2-11 could provide resources for veterans and their families.

“I’m very excited to be part of a program that’s helping the families of our service personnel get access to the help they need,” said Ms. Clark, 2-11 manager for the Brown County United Way. “This is exactly what 2-11 is all about, providing an easy gateway to services in our community.”
2-11 is an easy-to-remember, nationwide, non-emergency telephone number that connects people with community services and volunteer opportunities. Mrs. Kagen and the Freshman Congressional Spouses are promoting the Military Families Program as part of the menu of services available through Brown County 2-11. A subsection of the local 2-11 website is also dedicated to offering services for military personal and their families and can be seen at http://www.get211.org/.

Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. Applauded the efforts of his wife and the other spouses, as well as local advocates like the Brown County United Way.

“Our community here in Northeast Wisconsin does an incredible job of working together to meet the needs of our veterans and their families,” Dr. Kagen said. “Dialing 2-11 is an easy way to connect our soldiers with these much needed resources.”