Today's DAR
Vivian’s Outreach to Women is part of the Women’s Issues Committee and sponsors the Vivian’s Outreach to Women (VOW) Award. The VOW Award provides safe harbor for our nation’s homeless women veterans, three words that should never be linked together. Today’s Daughters seized this opportunity to ensure women veterans and their children remain together, are safe, and can return to society after serving our country. In the three years of the VanBuren Administration, eight shelters have received $235,000. This year three shelters were awarded a total of $75,000. Northeastern Division- Operation Stand Down Rhode Island, Holly Charette House sponsored by Phebe Greene Ward Chapter, Rhode Island, for $20,000. Southwestern Division, Steps 4 Life Community Services sponsored by Arrowhead Valley Chapter, California, for $30,000. Eastern Division-Veterans Multi-Service Center Inc., Mary E. Walker House sponsored by Skippack Creek Chapter, Pennsylvania for $25,000.
Homeless Women Veterans -Three Words We Should Never See Together
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island Inc. manages the Holly Charette House which houses six female veterans in Johnston, Rhode Island. The services provided are shelter, food and clothing assistance, employment and training services, and rental assistance through the Veterans Administration. The Holly Charette House has been in operation for over 10 years. The women can stay at the house for up to 18 months if needed. The $20,000 VOW award will purchase new furniture for a three-story home, paint, add needed kitchen appliances, and repair the outside sidewalk and steps. The Phebe Greene Ward Chapter applied each of the last two years and is a winner this year. Special recognition goes to Mrs. Deirdre Lee, Chapter Regent, for persevering to ensure the ladies received the support needed.
Steps 4 Life Community Services manages several homes which assist an average of 10 women veterans per year. It bridges the gap between housing homeless female veterans, access to services, and program support providing the path necessary to reach and maintain self-sufficiency. The organization has been in existence since 2011. The $30,000 VOW award will fund housing, food, hygiene, clothing, and case management to assist and facilitate female veterans in re-integration and reaching self-sufficiency. Cheri Zuccarelli, Arrowhead Valley Chapter Women’s Issues Chair, leaned forward to ensure the women veterans in California’s inland empire got the assistance needed.
Veterans Multi-Service Center Inc. is a partner with the VA Medical Center in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Veterans Multi-Service Center Inc. manages the Mary E. Walker House, whose primary mission is to assist women veterans in crisis with much needed programs. This organization identifies and addresses the specific needs of individual veterans. They create a more successful outcome through service-intensive transitional housing to develop a housing plan and potential income. Clinical treatment is focused on mental health and substance abuse treatment. Mary E. Walker House has been in operation for 16 years and assists an average of 22 female veterans a year. The $25,000 VOW award ($6,000 for art materials, $19,000 for therapy sessions and meetings) will fund an Art Therapy Program for 15 female veterans. Special thanks to Joan Cossman, Regent, Skippack Creek Chapter, for a VOW application detailing how art can provide an avenue for veterans to reduce anxiety, modify behaviors, and resolve traumatic event memories.
DAR can help our nation’s finest in their time of need because of a gift and the foresight of Vivian Luther Schafer. At 105 years of age, Vivian left in her will an endowment to DAR to support poor and homeless women. Her endowment is entitled Vivian Luther Schafer Fund for Indigent and Homeless Women. DAR is providing help to homeless and indigent women beginning with homeless women veterans through sustaining and transforming services: medical, educational, childcare, housing, clothing, food and/or with other needs.
All of us can make a difference by reaching out and supporting our local women veterans’ shelters with supplies, linens, knowledge and through the DAR Service for Veterans Committee, or recommending a specific shelter through Vivian’s Outreach to Women, Women’s Issues Committee. Amazing support to our homeless women veterans will be featured in upcoming “Profiles in Service”, highlighting chapter success stories on the the “Women’s Issues Committee DAR” Facebook Group and at the National Committee Showcase on Saturday, 2 July, 2:00 pm-4:00pm during the 131st Continental Congress.
Procedures for application for the VOW Award are on the DAR website here. Chapters are encouraged to make applications to their state Women’s Issues Committee Chair by 1 November of each year.
Special thanks from this officer to the Vivian’s Outreach to Women Task Force: Dr. Sharla Rausch, Arlington House Chapter, Dr. Jane Amelon, Princess Anne County Chapter, Nancy Wahineokai, Aloha Chapter and Cynthia Prichard, Wyoming Valley Chapter and Division Vice Chair, Eastern Division, Women’s Issues Committee for their diligent research and support. We appreciate the leadership and guidance of the Curator General, Mrs. Janet Whittington, and the Women’s Issues Committee National Chair, Eleanor B. Quigley-one great team.
