Veteran’s Day is almost here. Soon we will be inundated with images and messages of love and appreciation for our Veterans. President John F. Kennedy famously said, “On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free.” Virginia is home to approximately three-quarters of a million Veterans, both active and inactive. The Salem Veterans Administration does not just care for our region’s Veterans admitted to their hospital, but through several outpatient programs including housing placement for our homeless and at-risk heroes.
 
Gleaning For the World believes these heroes deserve our love and support year-round, and they aspire to help as many veterans as possible by working with veteran support organizations like the Salem VA Hospital, Veteran Associations, and local veteran councils. With so many veterans in need of assistance, they are doing all they can to answer the call, but we need the public’s help. are doing all we can to answer the call, but we need the public’s help. “We believe that it is our obligation to support our Veterans. They have been there for us, and now it is our turn to support them.” Jeane Smiley-Mason, Gleaning’s president explained. “Our goal in this effort of collecting supplies and funds during times like these is to not only provide the items that are critically needed, but to also show our love and appreciation and hopefully inspire hope for our country’s veterans in need.”
 
Gleaning For The World, a local nonprofit organization based in Concord, Virginia, is giving residents of central Virginia and beyond the opportunity to help our area  veterans by hosting a 2-day collection, November 7^th  and  8^th, from 10am to 6pm both days, at Sam’s Club on Wards Road  in Lynchburg.
 
The organization is asking the public to donate items from their Veteran’s Supply List available at the collection at Sam’s Club on November 7^th and 8^th, online at gleaningcharity.org, on their FB page or at their office in Concord.  We ask that all donated items be brand new, unused, in unopened packages.

The public is invited to drop off  both supply and cash donations during the collection. You can also choose to give a financial donation online at gftw.org, send a check to GFTW, PO Box 645 Concord, VA 24538, or call Gleaning For The World at 434-993-3600 to donate over the phone or to inquire about ways to help.

Supply donations and financial donations may also be dropped off at Gleaning For The World, Monday through Friday, 9am until 5pm each day. Their warehouse address is 7539 Stage Road, Concord, Virginia. Learn more about Gleaning’s Veteran assistance work at www.gleaningcharity.org