Jack Kemp

A week or so ago, I was walking on Metropolitan Avenue in Queens, NY, when I passed a gas station which had a small Christmas tree lot set up in a corner it. Their sign said the business was "Veteran Owned."

I often carry a one page list of organizations that help veterans in need and happened to have it on me that day, a list from Backpacks for Life and one that was written about on the Aviary two years ago. You can find it here.

Walking into the Christmas tree lot, where three people were working, I asked to see the veteran owner. He was a middle aged man, solidly built. His name was John When I told him about my writing and showed him the list, he asked a question I often get from veterans: "Can I have this?" "Sure," I replied. John says he visits the Veterans Affairs Dept. (VA) often and wanted to make copies of it.

At that point I told John that I wasn't in the market for a Christmas tree because I am Jewish. John gave me a warm smile. We shook hands and I went on my way.

That Helping Hand list takes about one page to print out on Microsoft Word. If you run into homeless vets on the street where you work or live, I'm sure they'd appeciate a copy for themselves. New York City has some local homeless veterans and also a number who have come from other cities and towns, men and women alike. Much of the information,  that there are other organizations than the "VA" that they can call upon for help, is surprising news to many of the ones I've met. The list found here represents years of the young Marine's experience and also some of my own research. Once again, see if you can go ot the link above spread this list around, either in person or by reposting it at a website or local newspaper where you live. It will be a valuable gift this Christmas and Hannukah season for a homeless veteran.

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