RICHMOND, VA — October 4, 2022 — To celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, Pocahontas Parkway is providing $60,000 in grants to several local nonprofit organizations over 2022.
This week, the toll road announced a $20,000 grant to Richmond-based Liberation Veteran Services, which will be used to help transport its veteran residents to and from their medical appointments at McGuire VA Hospital.
This grant was presented in honor of Pocahontas Parkway's integral connection to the iconic Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge, which is located at the eastern end of the 8.8-mile toll road.
“We're proud to support the amazing work that Liberation Veteran Services does every day," said Pocahontas Parkway Director of Operations Antonio Moreno. "They do so much to empower our most vulnerable veterans and we're pleased to be able to support their transportation needs. We look forward to developing our partnership with Liberation Veteran Services in the future."
Recently celebrating its ninth anniversary, Liberation Veteran Services has been dedicated to providing a safe haven exclusively for veterans in crisis in Central Virginia. From its 38-bed facility in Richmond's Manchester neighborhood, the organization offers homeless veterans the care, resources, and stability needed to rebuild their lives. In 2021, Liberation provided critical support services to 80 veterans, 44 of which received permanent housing.
“We are truly appreciative of Pocahontas Parkway’s generosity and support of our mission to end veteran homelessness,” said Jay Patrick, CEO at Liberation Veteran Services. "This donation has come at an important time to help us improve our transportation services so our our veterans can get to to their much needed medical, dental, and mental health appointments at the VA."
As part of its numerous support services, Liberation Veteran Services arranges travel from its facility to McGuire VA Hospital, making multiple roundtrip runs each week.
"We serve homeless veterans who all have PTSD, medical issues, or substance abuse issues," Patrick said. "Each of them needs access to the VA hospital regularly. On average, we take 20 trips to the VA weekly, transporting roughly 15-20 clients. Our staff is currently transporting them in a donated van that has no air conditioning, so this funding comes at the perfect time to make the greatest impact.”
Pocahontas Parkway, which is also known as Va. State Route 895 or Pocahontas 895, first
opened to motorists in May 2002 and was the Virginia highway project financed under the
Commonwealth’s Public-Private Transportation Act, which was passed in 1995.