Vietnam veteran honored by Red Cross for giving "Vittles for Vets"

Vietnam veteran who feeds fellow veterans named 2019 Red Cross Military Hero

WSLS NBC 10 News
Lindsey Ward
March 19, 2019

Our 2019 Red Cross Military Hero is a Vietnam veteran now helping other vets with one of life's basics: food.

You could say Bill McCann is surrounded by veterans.

When he's at home he helps his 95-year-old father-in-law who fought in World War II, pass the time with a puzzle.

But when McCann's out and about he's most likely volunteering with his nonprofit, Vittles for Vets.

“What we do is we issue $50 food gift cards to veterans who qualify for the program and to qualify you must be other than dishonorably discharged, you must be alcohol - and drug-free, and you must be living at or below federal guidelines for poverty,” McCann, he Red Cross Military Hero Award honoree, said.

Giving out these gift cards to veterans stemmed from a conversation with a homeless vet back in 2014.

“I took him to lunch in the cafeteria at the VA, gave him a $50 gift card to a supermarket and this big guy grabbed my hand and started crying and that was the very second Vittles for Vets was born,” McCann said.

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Volunteers are how miracles do happen!

Volunteers making miracles
Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
February 18, 2018

Eagles, "The Long Run" asks a question about why someone did something,

Did you do it for love?
Did you do it for money?
Did you do it for spite?
Did you think you had to, honey?

I my line of work...as a volunteer, not the one I get paid to do, I've met all kinds of people. The ones who do something out of spite, do not last long. They feed what is worse within them, then move onto a new target. 

The ones who do it for money, well, they get as much as they can without paying any kind of emotional price, and they also move on to the next thing they can make a living off of. The cause, clearly didn't matter as much as they claimed it did.

I've been doing it most of my life because of the example my Mom set as a volunteer with our church back home. She worked a full time job, but found time to help because of what she got back. As a kid, I asked her why she did it and she told me that the rewards were came to her heart, not her wallet.

I ended up volunteering at the church, the Girl's Club and the YMCA because doing it proved what she said was awesomely true. The rewards of the heart far outweigh whatever financial reward could ever do.

There are some who start out doing something out of love, but sooner or later, pride, ego or selfishness takes over, and they walk toward whatever else will make them happy about themselves. The cause they started out being dedicated to, was forgotten about. Sometimes it was because they just didn't care enough. Other times, on the surface they claimed it was not "about me" but under those words, it turned out, it really was all about them.

Then there are those I've been blessed to know, who started out doing it for love, then because they had to. Walking away was no longer an option because the work was part of them.

I am tiny compared to most of the people around me. You can see it in their eyes, hear it in their voice and know that they have something very rare within them. 

I get too angry at times. That is something I have to work on everyday because frustration manages to take over. I did not want to be doing this after all these years. I used to think that all I had to do was let people know what was going on and then go back to being living a "normal" life again. Now, this is normal for me. After 35 years, I couldn't walk away.

When people think about success, it usually means how much money do they have, how many followers and how much publicity do they get. I remember a remark made about me years ago by someone not interested in what I did. When someone asked him to help me, he said "Stay away from her. If she was any good, she wouldn't still need help." 

Well, needless to say, that twisted thought stuck with me. Had anyone bothered to step up and help, I wouldn't still be needing help, but that never dawned on him.

I know a lot of people with the power to help but they won't. The thing is, right now all across the country, there are many more just like me being judged by what is not given to us instead of what we give.

Here's a thought. The next time you decide that someone doing the work does not deserve your help, remember this.

Commissioning the Twelve Apostles depicted by Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1481.

Matthew 10

7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 

9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 

10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 

11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 

12 And when ye come into an house, salute it. 

13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 

14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Needless to say, I shook the dust of that man off my feet years ago. He didn't win. I did. The lives changed afterwards, the lives saved, marriages restored and mini-miracles, all happened because that is how Jesus measured success. 

That is how most of us measure it when you do something for the right reasons. Want to know how you can tell why someone does something?

They do it no matter what support they were denied. It just takes them longer to do it and the people they want to help, have a harder time finding them.

Some of us do it in-spite of what others view as failure. I hope that helps you do what you were called to do because you are doing it for the right reasons and that, that is how miracles do happen!

Camp Pendleton Marine from Orlando volunteers at homeless shelter

Marines volunteer at local homeless shelter
DIVDS
1st Marine Logistics Group
Story by Cpl. Timothy Childers
January 31, 2014

Servicemembers from Camp Pendleton and local volunteers serve food at the Bread of Life Rescue Mission in Oceanside, Calif., Jan. 28. Nine Marines and one sailor, with the help of several community volunteers, prepared and served a free dinner for local homeless and others in need at the Mission.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Timothy Childers / Released)

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Nine Marines and one sailor from Camp Pendleton joined forces with local volunteers to lend a helping hand at the Bread of Life Rescue Mission to prepare and serve a free dinner to local homeless and others in need in Oceanside, Calif., Jan. 28, 2014.

Many of the servicemembers who attended are members of the Prince Hall Masonic Society and organized the event with other civilian society members. The group volunteers their time to various community service activities in the San Diego area. This was the second occasion in which they volunteered at the Mission.

“Today we came here to give back to the homeless and needy and show the community that we are the kind of people with good hearts,” said Cpl. Andrew T. Gibson, motor transportation operator, Motor Transportation Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 1st Marine Logistics Group, who has experienced similar hardships. “It’s only right that I give back now that I’m able to,” added the 21-year-old Orlando native.
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Christmas Tis the Season for Selfish and Selfless

Christmas Tis the Season for Selfish and Selfless
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
November 30, 2013

I checked NBC this morning for news but when I saw side by side videos it got me thinking about how this time of year brings out the best and the worst in us. This is the worst.

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Are people really shopping to give to others or for themselves? Black Friday frenzy is not about what others are getting but more about what people want for themselves.

Would they really give a huge flatscreen TV away? Women rushing to buy clothes and jewelry are a dead giveaway since they try on the stuff they load their carts with. Guys buying tools, computer games and the latest gadget when they have small kids with them, a sure bet the stuff isn't for the kids.

Right next to this video was a report about troops in Afghanistan.

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Back here in the states families all over the country are spending this season with Skype and emails instead of sharing hugs while the vast majority of the American people are simply spending on bargains.

While most focus on their own needs, wants and issues,there is another group spending this season the same as they do the rest of the year, caring about others. They donate to charities, volunteer their time and show up with someone is in need.

They may get into the shopping frenzy but they are not loading up their cars with things for themselves. They are loading them up with things for others, like blankets and warm clothes for the homeless. Buying toys for their own kids as well as toys to donate so that other kids have something special just for them even though the givers know no one will ever really know it was from them.

When people donate to charities the people getting the services never know the people supporting them on the flip side. They just know someone out there does care about them. Unlike the shoppers pushing and shoving to get the best deal possible for themselves they put others on their to do list.

Which one are you?

Happy Thanksgiving, Team Rubicon Nation

Happy Thanksgiving, TR Nation!
November has been a busy month for us; our volunteers have been mucking out flooded homes in Austin, TX, providing medical relief to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan, and helping homeowners rebuild after the tornado in Washington, IL.

Whether we're sharing a Thanksgiving turkey with friends and family from the comfort of our home or splitting a pack of Turkey jerky and a cornbread MRE with our fellow volunteers in Illinois or the Philippines, we're incredibly thankful for your support.

Because of you, we've deployed volunteers on over fifty operations around the world and here at home. Over 13,000 veterans, first responders, and medical professionals have joined TR to answer the call of continued service.

Thank you, and from our family to yours,
Happy Thanksgiving!

- The Team

Soldiers' Angels charging volunteers to volunteer

Charity gets backlash over fees charged to volunteers
Army Times
By Karen Jowers
Staff writer
November 23, 2013

A charity formed in 2003 to send care packages to deployed troops is in turmoil as many of its volunteers protest a new policy forcing them to donate money each month in order to participate.

Soldiers’ Angels on Nov. 1 began requiring volunteers to donate $1 a month, preferably by credit card, in order to receive access to lists of troops, including chaplains, who have requested packages, cards and letters.

“I don’t see why we have to pay to volunteer since we pay for all the stuff that we put into the packages, and the postage to send those packages to the troops,” said Cyndi Fisher, who has been sending packages on behalf of the charity since 2006.

“When we signed up originally, we had to be verified, and most of us have been doing this for years,” Fisher said.

Soldiers’ Angels’ Chief Executive Officer Ann Davidson referred questions about the new policty to Amy Palmer, a volunteer for the group.
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Fort Carson soldiers' truck stolen while volunteering

Good Samaritan Soldiers Need Help Finding Stolen Truck
KKTV.com

Two Fort Carson soldiers, who just moved into our community, were volunteering with Designated Drivers of Colorado when someone stole their truck.

The husband and wife were inside a Denny’s drinking coffee, staying awake early in the morning. They were waiting to get the call, to drive someone safely home.

Their truck was stolen from the parking lot while the couple was inside the Denny’s off W. Bijou near I-25 around 1:30 Friday morning.

Now Designated Drivers of Colorado Springs Organizer Nonie Rispin, is asking for the community’s help.

“Normally I’m talking about how my volunteers want to keep everyone in our community safe; how my volunteers want to help them. This is very different, this time what I need is to ask the community to help my volunteers to please keep an eye out for this truck,” said Rispin.
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Fort Campbell honors selfless volunteers

Fort Campbell honors selfless volunteers
159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
Story by Capt. Xeriqua Garfinkel

Deborah Varna (left) and Tamra Shaughnessey, volunteers with the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, pose for a photo with Col. Jimmy Blackmon, the brigade commander after an awards ceremony at Fort Campbell, Ky., Oct. 18. The monthly ceremony recognizes outstanding volunteers who donate their time in support of other military families or their communities.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - "Ladies and gentlemen, the ceremony will begin in two minutes," the Voice of the Eagle announced over the microphone.

The last of the awardees found their seats as approximately 100 friends and family members, soldiers and leaders found theirs. The gathering in McAuliffe Hall Atrium, Oct. 18, recognized the Fort Campbell, Ky., Volunteer of the Month, where 159th Combat Aviation Brigade had three recipients.

The Volunteer of the Month program is dedicated by the post to recognize all the volunteers for Fort Campbell, explained Sonya Long, the family readiness support adviser for the 159th CAB. Each brigade has two months during the year to nominate their volunteers, and the top three with the most hours or an exceptional community outreach get awarded a certificate, division pin, post parking pass and a bag with other goodies.
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Collecting donations in Military wear is misleading, vets say

Military wear is misleading, vets say
Aug 11, 2012
Written by
R. Norman Moody
FLORIDA TODAY

Beyond wondering where the donation money goes, by far the biggest complaint lodged against out-of-town organizations’ collecting cash for veterans at local stores is the solicitors’ appearance.

In complaints to FLORIDA TODAY and multiple state agencies, veterans and their advocates say solicitors are dressed to resemble military men and women, when some have never served.

Carolyn Mosely, of Melbourne, filed a formal complaint with the state agency that oversees charities’ fundraising, about the encounter she and her husband had with a collector for Veterans Support Organization outside a local Winn-Dixie. In her letter, Mosely said the young man admitted he was not a veteran, although his dress hinted otherwise.

“He was just dressed like a soldier, and was collecting funds for the organization,” she wrote, adding that she felt it’s “totally misleading, dishonest, and possibly illegal to masquerade as a military person in order to scam the public into donating.”

She went to add, “My husband served 30 years in the USAF, had combat tours in three wars, and I resent anyone impersonating a military man.”
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My husband is with the DAV and I am with the Auxiliary. We go to stores arranged way a head of time for Forget Me Not drives twice a year. It happens all the time. People will come up to the table and tell us they love the DAV and just donated. When we ask them where they were, they said on "such and such street" and gave the money to a man in uniform. When we tell them the DAV does not collect money on the street and we do not put on costumes, they are horrified. They don't like being duped. What they like even less is the fact their money did not go to where they knew it would be put to good use.

The other group keeps changing their name but usually has a sign saying Disabled Veterans Foundation or something like that. People see the words Disabled Veteran and then just assume they are with the DAV.

I strongly suggest that if you are seeing anyone collecting money for veterans on the street or at a store, check to see who they are really with. If you don't know anything about them, get information from them and then look them up to see if they are worthy of your money and trust. If they won't provide you with the information, then go into the store and complain to the manager. Let them know what is going on. Most of the time the store managers just trust them because they have a tax exempt assuming they are on the level.

The above group is yet another problem if they are dressing up like veterans instead of actually being veterans.

Team Rubicon making a difference for all

When you take a bunch of veterans, many like Clay Hunt trying to carry on with PTSD eating them alive, put them to work for others, it is the best medicine. Doing for others feeds the gift they were born with. There is not a selfish bone in their body. They have to be unselfish to be willing to serve in the military and be willing to die in the process. Clay's death after combat by suicide was a very hard story to post on because he had done everything experts say needs to be done to heal.

Marine Loses Battle with PTSD: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

After the shock of his death subsided it occurred to me, and many more, that getting involved with Team Rubicon may have added to his days on earth because he was giving so much back to others. Volunteer work for these veterans is a blessing to them giving them an emotional jolt but it also wears on their souls being exposed to more and more suffering.

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When they show up to do this kind of work, there needs to be more emotional support for them just as with other emergency responders. Crisis intervention teams need to be ready and able to help them after especially when they are already carrying the burden of combat inside. Team Rubicon's efforts are spot on considering veterans volunteering are happier than an isolated veteran but there is only so much they can do. If you are trained in Crisis Intervention, please be there for them so more like Clay Hunt will be here tomorrow.

Team Rubicon
Mission Statement
Team Rubicon bridges the critical time gap between large humanitarian disasters and conventional aid response. We provide vanguard medical care by fielding small, self-sustaining, mobile teams of specially skilled first-responders. To deploy rapidly, we rely heavily on a horizontal command structure, social networking technology, and the employment of local nationals.

Disney to give day pass for volunteer work

Disney launching "Give a day, get a day" promotion
posted by Jason Garcia on Sep 29, 2009 8:19:33 AM

After a year in which it let guests into its theme parks for free on their birthdays, the Walt Disney Co. will hand out more free tickets in 2010 — but only after making people earn them.

Disney on Tuesday launched a new promotional campaign, “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day,” under which it will distribute 1 million one-day, one-park tickets to people who volunteer at select charities.

With the program, which succeeds the company’s “Free on Your Birthday” campaign this year, Disney is continuing its strategy of using discounts to lure vacationers amid a challenging economic climate that is expected to stretch well into next year. But it also marrying the approach with a socially conscious message.

“The thrust of this program is really about inspiring people to consider and participate in volunteerism, with the hope that that will become a way of life for them,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We think, in this case, that doing good for our communities is good business.”

Beginning Jan. 1, guests will be able to sign up for volunteer work through a Disney website. People will be able to choose from service opportunities provided by HandsOn Network, a sprawling volunteer network that links volunteers with more than 70,000 non-profits around the country.
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Disney launching Give a day, get a day promotion

Samaritans are helping in Hiram Georgia

Helping flood victims 1:29
Some good Samaritans are helping one Hiram, Georgia, family whose home was hit hard by floods. CNN's Catherine Callaway reports.


Helping Flood Victims

Flood took away everything, FEMA let her down, town picked her up!

Lewis Co. flood victim: 'I'd lost hope'

By Marlee Ginter Watch the story
WINLOCK, Wash. - For nearly two years, a flood victim hasn't had a place to call home after she was turned down repeatedly by FEMA and had to seek out help on her own.

Finally it was the community and some helpful public servants who came together to help Pam Lytle, who lost her home in the 2007 floods in Lewis County.

She now is living in a mobile home with three bedrooms and two baths. Volunteers removed the panels, cleaned up the home and got it ready for its new owner.

She considers it a palace.
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/53750997.html

Florida ranks among the worst in the nation in volunteering

Floridians Rank 49th In Volunteering
Friday, July 31, 2009 6:49:29 AM

ORLANDO -- Florida ranks among the worst in the nation when it comes to the number of people who volunteer.

Figures from the Corporation for National and Community Service show the state ranks 49th when it comes to people giving their time. The study ranked all U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

From 2006 to 2008, 19.6 percent of Floridians volunteered. Only Nevada and New York ranked lower with 18.8 and 18.7 percent respectively. The national average is nearly 26.5 percent. Utah ranked first with 43.5 percent.

The report only includes people who volunteer for official organizations, and doesn't include things like helping neighbors.
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Floridians Rank 49th In Volunteering