Credit: Chris English/LevittownNow.com
The Bristol Township municipal complex was a one-stop shopping venue for veterans on Saturday.
And while the clothes, food, games and other items were all free for anyone who wanted them, organizers of the veterans outreach event held in a park that’s part of the complex on Bath Road said the main goal was to help fill in the services gap for veterans left by the government and other agencies.
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“We have the city, county and state that all have programs for veterans, but they are not providing enough services for our veterans,” said Rodney Wyatt, a U.S. Marine and U.S. Army veteran and the founder and director of a nonprofit called Salute 2 Service, which partnered with the Bucks County Housing Group to put on Saturday’s event.
“There’s a lot of food insecurity, there’s job insecurity and there’s even clothing insecurity our veterans are suffering from,” he continued. “The bottom line is, we need help, and the government is not giving enough of it to us, so we have to get together and help ourselves.”
Wyatt said Salute 2 Service holds similar events every two months or so at various locations, and got together with the housing group to organize Saturday’s larger event.
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“I like to think we can be a very effective unit to help our veterans,” said Army veteran Tom Steel, a Bucks County Housing Group board member and chairman of its veterans program.
In addition to all the items free for pick up, there were also tables at the event set up by various organizations offering information and help on medical, job, housing and other services available to veterans. One of the added goals was to help veterans relax.
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“I’m picking up stuff for a veteran I know,” said Bensalem resident Cynthia Aker while looking through clothes.
Credit: Chris English/LevittownNow.com
“I got some great information on PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Hopefully, we can get him the help he needs.”
U.S. Air Force veteran Richard Viggiano Sr., chaplain at the John Billington VFW Post 6495 in Bristol Township, said events like Saturday’s are an invaluable service to those who have served the country in the armed services.
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“It’s fantastic,” he said. “I feel a little funny accepting stuff for free, but it’s really nice of everyone who has organized this. Unless you’ve been in the service, you really don’t know what it was like. It hurt a lot of people, and it helped a lot of people.”
Items for Saturday’s event were donated by several local businesses and individuals, Wyatt said.
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Bristol Township resident Sheila Dearing said it made her feel good to volunteer at the Last Days Motorcycle Ministry table.
Credit: Chris English/LevittownNow.com
“The way I feel about it, as an American, it’s the least we can do,” she said.
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“They went over there to fight for our country. I don’t think people care about or appreciate enough what our veterans have done for us. So, to be able to come out here and thank them for their service and give back to them is absolutely something I think everyone needs to do.”
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