Politics & Government
Donations Accepted for Homeless Veterans Through Saturday
Items being collected include backpacks, towels, notebooks/journals, small tote bags, and toiletry items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, razors, soap and hair brushes.
As part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, the Volunteer Center of Bergen County has partnered with the Bergen County Division of Veteran Services this week to assist homeless veterans in the area.
Donations of new backpacks, clothing, toiletries and food gift cards can be dropped off this week at the First Prebyterian Church of Hackensack, located at 64 Passaic St. in Hackensack at the following dates and times:
Friday, Jan. 13 -- from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Saturday, Jan. 14 -- from 9 a.m. to noon.
Although it's difficult to make an exact count of the total homeless veteran population, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)estimate that over 67,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, with another 1.5 million at risk of homelessness.
Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the reasons for homelessness are vast and complex, ranging from a lack of jobs and affordable housing to the lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to substance abuse and lack of family support.
If you'd like more information on donating to local homeless veterans, call 201-489-9454. Monetary donations that will be used to obtain needed items for the homeless veterans can be made by clicking here.
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