For years, VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana has served all of Lake, Porter, La Porte, Jasper, Newton, and Starke Counties, making an incredible difference.
VNA Hospice’s impact only continues to grow, though; on Wednesday, November 8 VNA Hospice held its first-ever event in Lake County, a Stand Down for Veterans, Active Duty Military, and their families and caregivers.
Organizations and businesses from all over the region gathered at the Lake County Fairgrounds to provide information, services, and a bit of hope to the veterans who need it most.
“There’s a big need in Lake County for veteran resources, especially in the southern part of the county. There are so many veterans in rural areas who have a difficult time getting to resources because of the distance. The closest Stand Down in Lake County is in Gary and that’s up in the northern part of the county. Today is an important day and we’re excited to be here,” said Erica Kerkes, Volunteer Services and We Honor Veterans program coordinator for VNA Hospice.
The first-ever Lake County Stand Down couldn’t have been possible without the overwhelming support of the community and event sponsors including: the Legacy Foundation, The Porter County Community Foundation, United Healthcare, American Legion Women's Auxiliary 1st District, and Edward H. Larson Post 802. Over 40 organizations came to participate in the Stand Down, including the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana who hosted a Mobile Market food distribution and then some of which even showed up last minute just because they heard about it and wanted to find a way to give a hand. VNA Hospice was grateful to each and every vendor and volunteer who came out to support our veterans.
“The collaboration with our community partners is amazing. Everyone here today is either donating their time and services or providing them at a minimal cost. The support of our community is just so great and to get to work together to do something for the men and women who fought for our country is wonderful. We’re fortunate to get to do it,” said Kerkes.
Several of the organizations that came to the Lake County Stand Down had also come to this past summer’s Porter County Stand Down, but holding a Stand Down in a different part of the Region meant that VNA Hospice got to welcome several new organizations as well. One of these new organizations was the Road Home Program, a program out of Chicago serving veterans with PTSD from all over the world. Rebecca Risley, Administrative Assistant for the Road Home Program, was excited to be part of such a meaningful event and share more about the program.
“I served in the Navy for 22 years, so being here today feels like being around extended family. It’s rewarding that I can help out my fellow veterans who need it. At the Road Home Program, we work through the Rush University Medical Center. We cover the costs of housing, food, and transportation for veterans who come in and get treatment for their PTSD. We’re here for anyone who needs us,” said Risley.
On top of providing meaningful information and connecting veterans with life-changing resources, the event was a great way to assist veterans directly. Each veteran was welcomed with a free meal provided by Curbside Dogs, Family Express and Strack & Van Til, coffee by Steamwhistle Coffee Roasters , haircuts by McFly’s Gentleman Shop and Lisa Van Vleet, and massages by On the Go Therapy Mobile Massage, and many quality personal care items from the vendors. Veterans rocking a new hairdo smiled as they were handed bags bursting with food. One veteran even shaved off his entire beard. It was touching to see how such a small act can make a tremendous difference.
“My favorite part of this event is always just watching the veterans get haircuts. I don’t know why but it just makes me cry. They go over already looking great, but they come out with a new skip in their step. They feel so much better and lighter–getting to serve veterans directly is what this is all about,” said Kerkes.
Most important of all, the event was an opportunity for everyone to bond and learn from one another. Robert North, a freshman at Valparaiso University, volunteered at the event and handed out bags of food donated by the food bank. The event was extremely rewarding for him, not just because he got the chance to help veterans in need, but because he got to learn more about the community’s veterans.
“My grandfather served in Korea, so it’s been neat connecting with other Korean War veterans and sharing stories about my grandpa. I’ve also met several Vietnam veterans, so it’s been nice to hear some of those stories. It means a lot to me to be here and help make their days a little brighter. Life can be hard–giving these veterans something is great,” said North.
Ultimately, the first-ever Lake County Stand Down couldn’t have made a bigger difference. Whether it was eating a free meal, getting connected with a life-changing resource, or having the opportunity to share a story with a new friend, every veteran got the chance to feel appreciated, and that is a gift that never stops giving.
“I hope they learned that if nothing else, they are valued,” said Cheryl Slack, Assistant Professor at Valparaiso University, who arranged for her students to volunteer at the event.
VNA Hospice can’t wait to hold more Stand Downs for Lake County’s veterans for years to come.
“We didn’t know what to expect today but I don’t think we could have asked for anything more. We hope to grow as much as we can and maybe even move into a bigger space at the fairgrounds here next year,” said Kerkes.
To learn more about VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana and its mission to connect veterans with valuable resources, visit www.vnanwi.org.