We all know that Memorial Day commemorates the sacrifices made by veterans now deceased. Over the recent long weekend three local yacht clubs turned a pleasure cruise into a giving opportunity to support Vetshouse, a local charity that has been serving living homeless veterans since 1992.
Thirty boats from the Old Point Comfort Yacht Club at Fort Monroe in Hampton along with boats from the Virginia Beach Yacht Club rendezvoused with the Cape Charles Yacht Club at the Cape Charles Town Harbor for a weekend of boating fun. Eileen Turner, Vice Commodore of Old Point Comfort Yacht Club, shown accepting a receipt for the combined donation of nearly seven hundred dollars from Bill Hamilton of Vetshouse in picture above, took the opportunity to ask the assembled boaters for donations to show support for all our veterans. Members of all three clubs were very generous in their contributions. Old Point Comfort Yacht Club is a long time supporter of Vetshouse.
Vetshouse, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides housing, food, clothing, and other assistance to homeless veterans of the US Armed Forces in order to facilitate their return to gainful, independent, responsible and productive lifestyles. More than 2500 homeless veterans currently live in the greater Hampton Roads area. One out of every four homeless persons in Hampton Roads is a military veteran.
Vetshouse is a several month program providing transition housing in contemporary homes; job placement, personal skills, and development counseling; food and transportation. It is a hand up, not a hand out.
Since 1992, Vetshouse has helped more than five hundred vets and more than 70% have successfully completed the program.
