Veterans Restoration Quarters Stories
Pratt and Whitney
You may have noticed the new Pratt & Whitney Production Facility that was recently built near I-26, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and French Broad River. As Pratt and Whitney grow their employee base to 800+ employees at this new facility, they have asked to partner with ABCCM in ongoing volunteer efforts to support the Homeless in the Asheville area. Our first project with Pratt & Whitney was scheduled at the Costello House. The group came in, the morning of February 18th to clean and stage the facility in preparation for the homeless seeking shelter that night. This was a wonderful, hardworking group that came in with strong backs and big hearts to serve. They were such a blessing!
We are currently working with Pratt & Whitney to schedule additional projects and volunteer visits at Costello House and the Veterans’ Restoration Quarters. Pratt & Whitney is particularly interested in what they can do to support our Veterans, and are currently working to schedule multiple volunteer service projects! We are excited about the possibilities and looking forward to their continued partnership and support.
Reach for independence
Reach for Independence is a facility located in Fletcher, NC that assists people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Last month, Shannon Buckner reached out to discuss and coordinate a volunteer activity for a group of 5-7 adults from the Reach for Independence organization. Shannon has worked for the Reach for Independence for 7+ years, and is charged with the care of a group of individuals at the organization. It was decided that the group would come out each week to the Veterans’ Restoration Quarters and spend 1-2 hours preparing bags of staple food items for the Crisis Ministry.
The group had their first volunteer event at the VRQ on March 2nd. A few of the volunteers were hesitant at first and somewhat shy. After just a few minutes, however, everyone in the group was smiling, laughing, and having a wonderful time. One volunteer talked about her father who had served in the Vietnam War, and what it meant to her to have the opportunity to volunteer at the VRQ. At the conclusion of the event, everyone was already talking about coming back the following week. Shannon and her group said that they were so happy and thankful that the VRQ had worked with them to identify a weekly volunteer activity where they can be “off-campus” and feel like they were contributing to the community.
Unfortunately, during the drive back to the Reach for Independence facility, the van carrying Shannon and her team of 5 volunteers was struck by a stolen vehicle that ran a red light. It was a serious accident in which the Reach for Independence van was flipped onto its side and totaled – and all passengers involved were transported to the hospital for a range of injuries. Shannon called back a couple of days later and regretfully cancelled the future volunteer events for the Reach for Independence group until everyone has had a full recovery and their transportation van can be replaced.
While it was heart-breaking to hear that this volunteer group experienced this tragedy on their way back home from their first volunteer event with ABCCM – we are extremely thankful that Shannon and the entire volunteer team has since been released from the hospital to complete their recovery at home. The VRQ residents and staff prepared individual “Get Well Soon” cards for each of the volunteers from Reach for Independence, which included a special message thanking them for their volunteer efforts.
It truly warms the heart to see such a dedicated and eager group of volunteers, and it reminds us all that everyone has something to give. We would also like to ask that everyone please include these individuals in your prayers - we hope that they all experience a full-recovery and are able to safely return to the VRQ to participate in future volunteer events.
Students from Christ School volunteer in the community
The Veterans Restoration Quarters has been truly blessed to partner with Christ School. In recent months, the Christ School group has volunteered for multiple projects at the VRQ. They often send different groups up to 20-30 students each time they volunteer, encouraging all their students to experience the joy of volunteering and honoring Veterans. Christ School’s volunteer events in recent months include: serving meals, designing landscaping, and repairing the river pathway at the VRQ. This group is highly motivated, and most recently asked how they could do “more” for ABCCM ministries and the homeless in Asheville, NC.
With this latest request, Christ School has expanded their volunteer efforts to include cleaning and staging the Costello House. Tuesday morning on February 8th, the Christ School youth basketball team arrived at the Costello House and worked into the afternoon, cleaning, staging rooms, and picking up the property in preparation for the homeless who would be staying there that night for Code Purple.
After volunteering on February 8th, the Coach & team sent ABCCM a message to thank us for the opportunity to serve! They were bursting with pride to have been able to widen their volunteer efforts and positively impact more lives!
We are grateful for Christ School’s unending devotion to the homeless community and recognize a spirit of giving in the group that goes above and beyond. The Veterans’ Restoration Quarters is fortunate to have volunteer partnerships with organizations such as Christ School, and we look forward to partnering in future projects that help the less fortunate and those in need in the Asheville, NC community.
Dry Creek Baptist Church
Just before Thanksgiving, Dry Creek Baptist Church reached out to the Veterans’ Restoration Quarters. Pastor Coy Adams and his wife Brandi were specifically interested in finding out more about how the VRQ provides for Veterans in need, and how Dry Creek Baptist could partner with ABCCM to make a difference.
After meeting with the Dry Creek Baptist Church congregation in late November, they began to volunteer with the Veterans’ Restoration Quarters and have volunteered six times in the last 6 weeks! In addition to supporting the VRQ with several different cook teams, Dry Creek Baptist has brought volunteer teams to deep clean the Costello House which is ABCCM’s Code Purple emergency Shelter for men. They also delivered large donations of new clothing, blankets, and sweat-suits.
Most recently, the church has volunteered to increase their volunteer commitment by supporting future VRQ site renovations. They are also branching out to volunteer in other areas of the ABCCM ministry.
The Veterans’ Restoration Quarters has truly been blessed to welcome the Dry Creek Baptist Church volunteer group. We are grateful for their kind, and giving spirit and we look forward to our continued partnership of supporting so many who are in need!
— Michelle Laws, Volunteer Coordinator
The Knights of Columbus' Fourth of July Steak luncheon is a VRQ tradition as American as apple pie! For the Knights of Columbus the 4th of July Celebration is about gratitude and service. According to Mike Nelson "It's a way to thank the Vets for all they've done for us. Most of our families are loaded with Veterans." As Mark Pfeil added, "They've sacrificed for us and we are glad to do this for them." While the world slowly transitions back to normalcy we remain grateful for our volunteers who preserve and celebrate the traditions of gratitude and service towards the Veterans at the VRQ.
Among our newest cook teams this year, Tz BBQ has brought a smoker full of pulled pork and joy to the Veterans down at the VRQ. Driven by the urgent needs of the pandemic, Tz BBQ is a community-driven project that combines the comfort of barbeque with the joy of taking care of people through food and nourishment. According to Ben Tzinberg, "At the heart of it, it's being in a place to help during such a hard time as the pandemic." For Ben, serving the folks at the VRQ was a joyful experience. "There is so much joy that comes out of it. Especially with barbeque. People see you out by the smoker and it brings up conversations and memories and joy." Ben and his smoker are planning on returning in the coming months to serve more meals and joy to our community. We appreciate the joyful and créativité spirit that Ben and all our volunteers bring to our community.
—Danny Szemple
Volunteer Coordinator
Charles served his country proudly in the United States Army. After his service, Charles was involved in an accident that severed 2 of the main nerves in his back. As a result of this accident, he suffered paralysis from the waist down. Charles eventually moved in with his mother in South Carolina. When she suddenly passed away, he found himself in a situation of homelessness. Charles “couched surfed” for a while. He was staying in a hotel with inadequate accommodations for him and his wheelchair. We made outreach to him and brought him to the VRQ as a resident. Charles was placed in one of the rooms that contained a handicap shower furnished by the Christopher Reeves Foundation grant. He is able to maneuver his wheelchair successfully to take full advantage of the shower facility. Charles said “God has blessed me by bringing me here and giving me a great place to stay with the things I need. The shower in my room is wonderful and works for me great. It is something I haven’t had in a long time.”
Since coming here Charles has received housing intervention and has moved into a place of his own. Charles said “Hopefully my new place will have a great shower like my room now does!” The best news is that Charles has started to regain more feeling in his legs and is working with the Charles George VA Medical Center to have some braces made so he can start therapy to walk again. “I know it will be hard work but I know I can do it. God has been so good to me!”
While this year has been a strange year, holiday festivities at the VRQ helped make Christmas feel just a little more normal for our Vets. Our socially distant Christmas celebration included a 12 foot tall Christmas tree, bellies full ham and mac n ' cheese, a table of full desserts, rockin' around the Christmas tree with our music therapy instructor. Then of course, the presents – coats provided by the wonderful Blue Ridge Honor Flight then hand delivered door to door by our VRQ staff.
To all who gave socks and scarves, cards and coats, hats and hopes we want to say thank you, thank you, and thank you for caring for our community this year and every year. One of our Veterans said “This is the best Christmas I have ever had!” Your care changes lives every day. Please continue to pray for our community and our Veterans as we go forth together into this new year as brothers and sisters in Christ.
—Tim McElyea,Director