VNSNY Hosts Donation Drive for Homeless and At-Risk Veterans
May is Military Appreciation Month—and in honor of the month, VNSNY’s Veterans Program, in collaboration with Backpacks For Life and Sunrise Senior Living of New Dorp, Staten Island, has launched a donation drive to support homeless and at-risk veterans. From now through May 20th, VNSNY is working with community partners to collect essential items that will be distributed to veterans in need. Requested items include hats, gloves, notebooks, pens, toiletries, feminine hygiene items, first aid products and more. Monetary donations, which will be used to buy similar items for veterans, are also welcome.
All donations will be distributed through Backpacks for Life, a nonprofit organization that provides support to homeless and at-risk veterans struggling to reintegrate into civilian life. Founded in 2014 by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Brett D’Alessandro and his fiancé, Alexa Modero, Backpacks for Life has distributed thousands of backpacks filled with essential items across the country, with all supplies donated by members of the community. Once the backpacks are distributed, a representative from Backpacks for Life also helps the veterans who receive them to navigate the many programs and resources available through the organization’s coaching and mentorship service.
From now through May 20th, donations can be dropped off during regular business hours at Sunrise Senior Living of New Dorp, located at 470 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island. Click here for additional information, or to make a monetary donation directly to Backpacks for Life, click here.
On May 20th, VNSNY will celebrate the final day of donations at the Sunrise Assisted Living of New Dorp drop-off site along with our partner organizations NYPD 122 Community Council and Sunrise of New Dorp. Participating volunteers will work from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. to fill the backpacks with the donated items, after which they’ll be sent off with Backpacks for Life for distribution.
For more information on how to participate in the drive, contact Joe Vitti, Director of VNSNY’s Hospice Veterans Program, at [email protected].
