Homes for the Brave - May Newsletter

May 2016 Edition

We are very thankful for so many folks that have remembered our men and women during May and specifically on Memorial Day. As we continue to reach out to build awareness for homelessness among Veterans, we appreciate gestures of support in every form and fashion.

We hope that our readers will be able to join for our July 11 Golf Classic & Lobster Bake, as well as the many exciting things that will be happening at Homes for the Brave in the months ahead, which are detailed in this edition of The Perimeter!

Creating Hope, Building Dreams...

Vince Santilli

Chief Executive Officer

Upcoming Events

Homes for the Brave and our community partners have something to offer everyone through the end of the year. Save the dates; we look forward to seeing you soon!

Thursday, June 9 - Salute to Female Soldiers: Our Forgotten Heroes (East Windsor, CT)

Brought to you by Rua Agency & Farmers Insurance, this open house fundraiser offers fun for the whole family. Join us at the CT Trolley Museum for trolley rides, face painting, music, caricatures, a cook-out, and more. Proceeds benefit

FS:FH . Learn more and buy tickets here.

Monday, July 11 - The 12th Annual Homes for the Brave Golf Classic & Lobster Ba ke (Orange, CT)

Golfers and non-golfers alike are invited to participate in our annual day of fun, food, and fellowship. This year, we're meeting at Racebrook Country Club for a BBQ lunch, golf, contests, prizes, and more. Following golf, we'll meet for a traditional New England Lobster Bake. Purchase your foursomes, sponsorships, and Lobster Bake tickets here.

Saturday, September 24 - "Step Up for the Brave" Stadium Stair Climb Challenge (Bridgeport, CT)

The stadium stair climb challenge is a vertical road race where patrons will "brave the heights" in honor of our brave service men and women. Join us at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard (Bridgeport Bluefish Stadium), or participate as a virtual climber.

Registration is now open with early bird pricing! Learn more here.

Friday, November 11 (Veterans Day) - 1st Annual Homes for the Brave Mini-Golf Tournament (Stratford, CT)

This Veterans Day, we are launching a brand new FUNdraiser: the Mini-Golf Tournament! Adults of all skill levels are invited to join us at Oronoque Country Club in Stratford for dinner, drinks, prizes, and 18-holes of indoor miniature golf. Save the date ; details to follow soon.

Please contact Katie Marinelli with questions about our upcoming events and/or sponsorship opportunities.

Exchange Club of Shelton

This month, Exchange Club of Shelton- -a service club dedicated to Americanism, community service, youth activities, and the prevention of child abuse--made their first visit to Homes for the Brave. With them they brought an extensive feast for our residents, featuring London broil, homemade empanadas, fresh-grilled buffalo wings, and much more.

In addition to the abundant spread, the evening left a lasting impression because of the time our guests and residents spent laughing, sharing stories, and getting to know each other. The Exchange Club members were so impressed by our programs that they also explored unique ways they can help, including gardening and identifying employment opportunities for our Veterans.

Thank you, Exchange Club of Shelton, for sharing your talents, time, and kindness with us!

Dames for Soldiers: Girls' Night Out

On May 20, ladies and (brave) gentlemen alike gathered at Gomer's Bar & Grill in Waterbury to raise awareness for female veterans experiencing homelessness. This fun and unique fundraiser, titled Girls' Night Out to Support Connecticut Female Veterans, featured music and dancing, food, and an all-male fashion show. The evening was organized by Dames for Soldiers , a group of local women who volunteer their time and resources to support past, present, and future military service members.

Attendees were asked to make a small donation of $5 or an item from our wish list, but the collection far exceeded our expectations! Together, event patrons contributed an entire truck bed of goods and $1,000 in monetary donations. Thanks to all attendees for your generosity, which will directly benefit female veterans in Connecticut who are working hard to return to productive, meaningful lives.

We'd like to extend an extra special thank you to the individuals and organizations that made the evening so successful: Dames for Soldiers , Gomers Bar and Grill , Biker Boutique , Yankee Harley-Davidson , Do It Up Productions DJ & Karaoke Services , Jennifer Shea of Touchstone Crystal , and Leanne Williams Photography and Videography .

Armed Forces Day

It's no surprise that our incredibly compassionate community pulled together to show its support for our Veterans in celebration of Armed Forces Day.

Wallingford Community Women

On May 21, Wallingford Community Women hosted its 4th Annual Veterans Supply Drive at the Wallingford Walmart Supercenter. The club set up tables by each entrance and asked shoppers to consider purchasing and donating items from our wish list to our Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes program.

The ladies are proud to report that this was their most successful year yet! We were floored by the generosity that Wallingford's residents demonstrated. Many people contributed full bags of goods, and one supporter donated an entire shopping cart filled with the items we need most: paper goods, cleaning supplies, food, personal care products, and more. It took three jam-packed trucks and vans to transport everything our supporters collected back to Bridgeport.

Thank you, Wallingford Community Women, for ensuring that the women who served our country have all of their basic needs so that they can remain focused on their big picture goals.

Northeast Tree Service: "Buy a Tree, Help a Hero"

The first annual "Buy a Tree, Help a Hero" fundraiser was a huge success. Hosted by Northeast Tree Service, LLC, the open house showcased live music by Johnny Tripps and the Alphabits, food from Snappy Dawgs and The Tasty Yolk , raffle prizes, kids' activities, and--of course--sapling sales to benefit our programs at Homes for the Brave .

Images courtesy of Ceci Belot

Many attendees said that the highlight of the day was when Veterans and residents, J.D. and O.P., joined the band to perform on the guitar, drums, and vocals. " This is the kind of talent that puts down a guitar to pick up heavy artillery. This is the type of talent that fights for your freedoms every day ," announced Northeast Tree Service's Sales & Marketing Director, Maria LaBua.

Thanks to Northeast Tree Service LLC as well as our residents, friends, families, vendors, and Mayor Ganim for participating in a beautiful day dedicated to celebrating and supporting our Veterans.

If you weren't able to make the event, don't worry! Northeast Tree will keep the Buy a Tree, Help a Hero fundraiser open through the end of the year. You can still reserve your sapling for a donation of $20 and Northeast Tree will plant it on your property for FREE. Contact Northeast Tree Service LLC by phone (203-579-2001) or email for details.

Poetry Corner

You've heard our musicians play and you've seen our artists' create masterpieces. Now we are pleased to introduce Mark M., our resident poet.

Like many of our talented clients, Mark has benefited from the therapeutic qualities of creative expression through his writing practice. He has generously agreed to share his work in this and future editions of The Perimeter .

KINTSUGI

Image courtesy of Recycluzz.com

Homes for the Brave

How brave you are

So proud and standing strong

Yet giving even stronger

Back to us who gave

And now have naught

Except you

Yes, you who refuse to let

us fall by the wayside

Cast away like empty containers

Or chewing gum void of flavor

Once proudly serving and so needed

Now looked upon with scornful eyes

Eyes wide shut to the path we walked

Homes for the Brave

How brave you are

And Masters in your art

Far, far more than helping hands

Your hands mend more than broken lives

Patch more than men

You have the hands of artisans

Always constructing, molding, carving

Even birthing

New souls, new masterpieces

Worth far more and

Even more beautiful for

Having been broken

But more than that for finding

our way into

Your loving, caring, heartfelt hands...

Giving Back

This month, we were pleased to learn that we were one of 1,200 homeless housing and service programs to receive the Continuum of Care (CoC) grant renewal from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The $105,000 award enables us to continue to operate Waldorf House , which provides safe permanent housing, case management, and support services to formerly homeless Veterans.

On May 9, Congressman Jim Himes visited

Waldorf House to congratulate us on the award and to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Waldorf House and Connecticut's homeless service providers.