Rally Point 96 Kim Spencer Ashley Ortiz

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, Rally Pointers. This is Paul Poleshi, your host,
along with James Hemingway the Sarge Hook and Zane the Brain.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Folks, this is the Sarge Fallen. Today we have a
special guest here from helwic Hearts from Heroes, Kim Spencer.
Welcome to the show.

Speaker 3 (00:24):
Thank you, Good morning everybody.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Once again, for those out there who are not familiar
with Kim, once you introduce yourself again and tell everybody
what you do.

Speaker 3 (00:33):
So I'm Kim Spencer. I'm with Southwest Florida Retirement Properties.
We have two properties in Venice, two in Northport and
too in Port Charlotte. The nice part is we are
privately owned, so there's so much money, so many more
advantages to that privately owned entity. But we're helping seniors
on an independent and assisted living.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
And now you have my curiosity peaked. What's the difference
between the difference between being privately owned and.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
That so corporate corporate?

Speaker 2 (01:06):
And there you go, folks, corporations are not in factor.
Could you talk about the concept that I had the
honor to be a part of in help form helping
cards for Heroes? When did you do do it and
why did you do it?

Speaker 3 (01:21):
Okay. So it started last summer. Shanna Willis, who works
for Right at Home and I got together and wanted
to do something for our veterans. So we knew about
the Veterans' Homeless Village in Punta Gorda. It's a three
to six month program for our veterans that were there
helped to get social services, jobs, housing, whatever. So when

(01:41):
they leave there, they have nothing to start their new
place with. So we started a collection for brand new
items for the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen and so Jay,
you were very instrumental in helping us get boxes out
and getting the collections done. And then we did a
presentation in December, which was very overwhelming, I think for
our veterans. But I found it very overwhelming to realize

(02:05):
that we actually at that time there was twenty four
veterans there that were homeless. Nice and we had a
gentleman that was graduating from the program and he had
spent six hundred days in living in his car before.
I found this program.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
So outstanding and one of the things and as you
said last year December, it was a lot overwhelming in
regards to the generation gap to the people that were there.
But I found that they quickly embraced the military sense
of being, so to speak. When I said, fallen man,

(02:40):
we had some food for you from child for you,
and then all of a sudden they started trusting us
a little bit more and we handed up the bags
per unit, and all of a sudden, I think the
best part someone asked for a hug. I said a
while that was I knew at that point we had him.
And one of the great things about this program is

(03:00):
that they don't leave them flat on their feet. They
build them up to graduate, to be independent or semi independent,
and that's one of the best things that we have.
With Helping Hearts for Heroes, I think we started up
with home goods for Heroes and then we transitioned into
into helping Hearts for Heroes. And I believe that the

(03:21):
Warry Wellness program is also a contingent of that.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
Is that correct, correct, that is under our umbrella as well.
So what happened was, you know, when we were doing
the home goods, you know, people were wanting to give
us money, but you know, we couldn't take it because
of you know, it's falling under our businesses. So Heidi Nibel,
who actually owns right at Home is created the five
oh one C three. So it's Heidi, Sean and myself

(03:44):
that are co founders of the five oh one C three.
So that you know. So we've been doing the fundraisers.
So if there's a veteran that you know it needs
help with a light bill or you know they've hit
a bad spot on their rent or whatever, that we
can try and help them with with some.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
Little extra definitely, and definitely, And folks, if you remember
not too long ago, Justin Lipford is the He's in
charge of the Warrior Wellness Solutions.

Speaker 1 (04:10):
Is that correct? That's correct?

Speaker 2 (04:12):
And I'll say that he also has a rucking program
which is every Friday.

Speaker 1 (04:18):
I believe we do it. It started off everything now
we're doing They're trying to wear me into the ground.
It's four days a week that we do it twice
at Franz Rock Park. That's Tuesdays and Thursdays and then
Wednesdays at Pioneer Park and then Friday is at Centennial Park.

(04:39):
Oh yeah, he's got me on the go.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
Well, I'll say this, ever since Justin I started that program,
I'll say I'm amazed how it's grown. It's not just
the rucking. It's a socialization folks that we that we
have and as former service people in veter if, you
tend to be very compromitanalized. Oh, I pulled it off.

(05:04):
And basically we sit in our own little silos and
we kind of, you know, go through our day to day.
But with his program of going out and walking and talking,
I have to say he's gone through probably three or
four dozen veterans that are unique each track.

Speaker 1 (05:19):
Oh yeah. And what's kind of neat though, is we
get a lot of non veteran people that show up,
So those conversations are great. They get to know a
little bit more about what we did, why we did it,
so forth. So there's there's a not just veterans anymore.
It's really has expanded out. But I'm going to go

(05:42):
back to your program. Can you tell us a little
bit more? You say it's a three to six week program.
What are some of the topics of that program?

Speaker 3 (05:51):
So I'm not necessarily part of that program on Nancy
Ortiz is the manager of it and is run by
Volunteers of America, but they do help with any social services,
helping them find housing and jobs and getting them back
on their feet. But this village down there is basically
they've apartment complex. Some people don't even realize that it's

(06:13):
for the veterans. It's on Taylor Road and there's there
put two people to each apartment just to kind of
help them, you know, get acclimated to each other and
then have the socialization with each other and get getting
them back on their feet. But and again, like when
they leave there, they're leaving with something they start with.

Speaker 1 (06:30):
That's that's what it's all about. And I think the
socialization part helps keep people from withdrawing, which is absolutely
the worst thing that we want our veterans to do.
We want them out and about.

Speaker 3 (06:46):
Well, the sad part is for our veterans, you know,
is that some of them do feel very isolated because
some people have not welcomed them back, especially our Vietnam vets.
Those are the ones that were treated so poorly. So
some of them, you know, I've had come into my office,
you know, to look at the community and so forth,
and then to find out that they really don't want
to talk about their service. They don't feel they deserve

(07:07):
the some of the benefits that are out there for
them and such.

Speaker 1 (07:11):
So you know, you mentioned that they would not welcome back.
That's where Southwest Honor Flight comes in. But that also
shows how all of these organizations touch each other. There's
no one organization that can do it all, and there's
so many out there. But the more we're coordinated together,

(07:34):
the better off we are because there's somebody who has
a specialty that we'll cover that we can't do it
all individually, but we can do it all together well.

Speaker 3 (07:45):
And you know, the more I'm involved with this helping
hearts for Heroes and so forth, I'm finding more and
more people and what is out there, some of the
services that are out there for our veterans. You know,
even just the VA Court. That was something that I
wasn't aware of. Charlotte County Veterans Council, which is trying
to bring everybody together so when we have events, we're
not overlapping. But also you know, so that everybody does

(08:06):
know what resources are out there for veterans.

Speaker 1 (08:09):
There's so many, so many organizations out there that that's
becoming a problem that we don't step on somebody else's event.
So yeah, that's one of the things we have to do.

Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yes, definitely, and one of the reasons why We're strong
believers of the Charlotte County Veterans Council. Today's a special day.
With that being the case, we hope that they can
help organize the veteran organizations in Charlotte County to be
more effective and to that effect folks in our studios.
It's also Nancy Artis and welcome to the show.

Speaker 4 (08:43):
Hello, welcome.

Speaker 2 (08:46):
Whant you tell America what you do, how long I've
been doing it, and how you impact our community, our
veteran community and community here in Charlotte County, Okay.

Speaker 5 (08:55):
So I'm the program manager for Volunteers of America of Florida.
We are a transitional housing program for homeless veterans and
we offer case management, mental health services, we do groups
on site. What we offer is a twenty four unit
housing shelter. It's like a step above the shelter. That's

(09:17):
why it's considered transitional housing. So we house twenty four
veterans at any given time. Our goal is to have
them housed within three to six months, and we connect
them with all the different resources in the community.

Speaker 4 (09:30):
To be able to obtain that permanent housing outstanding.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
I'll say that I've been in Charlotte counting for the
last I'd say since twenty sixteen, so almost ten years now.
And i will say that I've had the pleasure to
assist in multiple projects with your facility, and I'll say
that one of the best parts of it is I
think that your program establishes a positive mental health situation

(10:00):
for the vets. We all come with our demons, but
to socialize kind of helps break that down. And I'll
say thank you to our show and thank you for
your service to us in our community. By the way,
since I'm on that topic, if an individual was looking
to kind of get intod of the program or in
need of help, what's the steps they take to get
involved or to get connected with your services.

Speaker 5 (10:22):
So there's many different ways that they can be referred
to our program. They can be referred through the VA,
through their pack social worker. They can simply call us
or walk in. Even so, we take referrals from anywhere.
Any veterans that maybe at risk of homelessness or experiencing
homelessness can come in and packet and we can screen

(10:44):
them for eligibility and see we can get them on
our list or get them into the program. The process
is basically once we get their information in their pocket,
we forward it to the VA, and once they approve
them for eligibility, we can bring them in. But the
better they don't have to be eligible for be a
healthcare They can be humanitarian veterans, they don't. The only

(11:05):
thing that we exclude is dishonorable discharges, so any general
medical other than honorable.

Speaker 4 (11:10):
We take all of that.

Speaker 2 (11:14):
And some of my personal note, what path got you
to this direction here? And your type of you're in
your lifetime to take care of veterans. They do you
have any personal connection to veterans? What's your story?

Speaker 4 (11:27):
So, yeah, I do. My grandfather was in the Navy.

Speaker 5 (11:31):
I have two nephews who are currently serving in the
Marines and in the Navy, and my brother was in
the Army. My passion to help people struggling with mental
health and substance abuse the game early. That's what got
me into the field that I'm in. And I was
a substance abuse concert before this. But when I seen
that opportunity come up, it was near and dear to

(11:54):
my heart. So I really wanted to move forward with
my journey and onto this career.

Speaker 1 (12:01):
So your organization makes them work towards a goal.

Speaker 5 (12:04):
Absolutely, everybody is given a treatment plan and the housing
is always the first goal, but if they have any
other goals that they want to work on, we also
put that on their treatment plan. It can be increasing
their income. They do that through getting them connected with
the Veteran Service Office, getting employment, getting them connected with
the VA Employment Specialists, or the SORE program, which is

(12:26):
seeing they're eligible for Social Security disability if they're not
able to work or they're not eligible for any veteran benefits.

Speaker 1 (12:33):
Can they get some kind of career training or anything
like that you're hooked up with something like that.

Speaker 5 (12:38):
Yes, we do refer them to career source and we
refer them to both rehab so BOKE Rehab can retrain
them to see if they're interested in or eligible to
for any other skills or programs that they may not
have done in the past. And then they also the
VA Employment Specialists can connect them with utilizing the GI

(13:01):
Bill and providing them with education opportunities.

Speaker 1 (13:05):
So we're really trying to get them back on their
feet and part of being in the community as a resource.

Speaker 5 (13:13):
Absolutely, yes, our treatment plan is base to cover any
of their needs that they have and any goals that
they have to work on. They have medical issues, we
put that on there and we help coordinate them with
their appointments. Mental health, We help them connect with those resources.
If they have legal issues, we put that on their
treatment plan and help them resolve any legal issues, just

(13:35):
anything that they have to do to be able to
maintain their housing and move forward in their lives.

Speaker 2 (13:43):
Definitely, definitely. May I ask during your process of helping
out veterans in residence of your establishment, what seems to
be some of the top three I guess problems you
run into in providing these services and what do you
find to be the most rewarding. I mean, if you

(14:07):
have a generic story to tell, what would be one
of the success stories that you think you'd like to mention.

Speaker 1 (14:13):
On our show.

Speaker 5 (14:15):
As far as challenges, it's kind of hard to keep
the veterans on track when they have low motivations, so
we do a lot of motivational interviewing. Sometimes they're comfortable.
A lot of them like vaway, so once they get there,
they're like, Oh, I want to stay here.

Speaker 4 (14:33):
I like it here.

Speaker 5 (14:34):
They get lots of support from Charlotte County and the community,
and they feel the love, so they get kind of
nervous about moving forward after that, but we let them
know that they can come back whenever they want.

Speaker 4 (14:45):
We're still here for them.

Speaker 5 (14:47):
They can come get food from our pantry if we
have some, they can come volunteer if they'd like to.
So we try to maintain that community with them even
after they leave. But we do have a lot of
veterans also that kind of not a lot, but we
have a few veterans that are not willing to take
the step to tackle their mental health issues or their

(15:10):
substance abuse issues. So these are usually our most difficult
veterans because we're trying to help them move forward, but
if they're not willing to admit that they have these
issues and work on them, it's kind of like going
in a circle.

Speaker 1 (15:22):
That makes it.

Speaker 2 (15:22):
That makes a lot of sense. And I have to
say that the impact I think you guys have on
the I guess the treatment program is there a particular
area in when you try to tackle things first you
stabilize it with housing. Obviously, what would be kind of
the process an average person would go through? Do you
think do you do it from day zero? Walking through
the door, I have a place to stay. Where does

(15:45):
that treatment plane.

Speaker 5 (15:46):
Go from there, so so do as they walk in.
When I do their intake, I provide them with the
list of the frontline providers for Charlotte Coney, which tackles
every area basically mental health, medical, if they're not for
be healthcare, the free clinic, and the employment is on there, everything,
so it's basically what they want to work on. We

(16:08):
meet them where they're at and that's a challenge and
also a good thing because it's making them comfortable to
come in and be honest and genuine. But it's hard
because if they're not willing to work on things we
know they need to work on, we just kind of
have to go with the flow. So if they don't,

(16:29):
if they have these serious medical issues but they don't
want to treat them, there's nothing we can do because
everything is voluntary. So it's whatever they want to work on.
But usually they come in and I provide them with
that list, and the first place I always reiterate is
to go to the Veteran Service Office just to touch
base with them and see if there's anything more that
they can do to get any benefits that they may

(16:50):
be entitled to that they're not getting.

Speaker 2 (16:53):
I'm sorry.

Speaker 3 (16:54):
So when you talk about the addiction part, how do
you help them with that? Do you give them like
meeting polices for like larcotics anonymous, alcoholics anonymous, or do
you have them come into the community itself all of
the above.

Speaker 5 (17:10):
So I give them if they I asked them at
intake if they would like a list of the AA
and NA meetings, we give that to them if that's
something they're interested in. We do groups on site. They're
seeking safety groups for PTSD and relapse prevention. Those are
every Tuesday at eleven and then we provide them with
other resources in the community mental health and substance abuse

(17:32):
like Charlotte Behavioral and the VA Mental Health.

Speaker 4 (17:34):
To seek outside sources. So once they leave the program,
they have some type of.

Speaker 2 (17:38):
Okay, Paul, do you have a question to ask?

Speaker 1 (17:42):
Well, I was curious about how the organization gets their funding.
What's their sources. I'm always worried about we need to
continue these programs so and it always takes money.

Speaker 5 (17:54):
Absolutely, that's very important. Our location is completely funded through
the VA. We are a nonprofit, We're not part of
the VA, but this the Veterans Village is funded through
the VA and community support the VOA Florida. We have
multiple programs across the state. We probably have I think

(18:15):
I'm not going to give a number because I don't
know exactly and I don't want to miss inform, but
we have at least fifteen or more programs across the
state that provides services to seniors, to people with mental
health diagnosis. It's called permanent support of housing and then
low income housing as well. So each of our facilities
is funded from different different sources, but the veterans programs

(18:40):
are all funded through.

Speaker 2 (18:41):
The VA Outstanding. It's amazing how what you guys are
able to do and the work you provide us our veterans.
And I'm just curious, Kem, how'd you guys meet?

Speaker 3 (18:53):
So I had just had found out about this veteran's
homeless village, and of course you know, as you know,
it's stared to my heart for my step to and Sean.
Of course, her husband served our country for eighteen years,
and Sean and I were trying to figure out what
can we do for the veterans, and we started talking
about it a year ago last summer, and so we

(19:13):
reached out to Nancy and she graciously met with us
and we told her what, you know, like what what
do you need and so forth, so like what we're
trying to figure out what the program truly needed, and
so it was all about helping them when they graduated.
So but I can tell you that while we were there,
I've been there subsequent times, you know, and these veterans

(19:34):
come in and they really trust her. You can tell
the rapport, which really warms our heart because you know,
she's a case manager. She could have a hold her
program manager, she could have a different attitude, but you
could just tell the warmth and how much it means
to her to help these veterans, because there's been several
times that she takes the time with them or you know.

(19:54):
So it's really touching, Nancy. And so you know, so
thankful that you're there and that you and again with
you background. And I think that's what helps us all
that there's some connection to a veteran in some way,
shape or form, and I think that really helps and
makes the difference. But certainly kudos to you for what
you do for our veterans. And I'll tell you the
Veterans Village itself, you know, the apartments are really nice

(20:16):
or kept up I mean in these veterans. Of course,
all of our veterans are so deserving, but they even
you know, have the community house and they have the
swimming pools, so there's so many things that are there
for them at this veterans village, and it's a nice
apartment complex.

Speaker 5 (20:30):
That I can understand that, Yes, why would they especially
around the holidays.

Speaker 4 (20:37):
Yeah, far from the community is overwhelming.

Speaker 3 (20:40):
Yeah, as it should be, I mean, and we don't
want to just limit it to that time. But but yeah,
I think that's I think that's the hardest part for anybody,
especially if there's no family around, and that is the holidays,
even especially somebody who you know, going back to you know,
the addiction part. You know. That's why some of these
places like Easy does It Club don't have a twenty

(21:01):
four hour party during holiday seasons, you know, so that
nobody is by themselves.

Speaker 5 (21:06):
Yeah, we're getting excited. It's almost time to set up
our Christmas tree in our community room. We have a
meeting slash party for decorating the tree, and then we
have another one in December for Christmas.

Speaker 3 (21:20):
And we are putting our boxes out again. So we're
you know, because we are really running out of supplies,
so we have started our collection. So anybody who wants
to collect, if you know of anybody that we need
to put a box out or but we can, they
can go to our our website Helping Herts for Heroes,
and there's a QR code. There's actually a link to Amazon,

(21:41):
so they can just order through Amazon and have it
directly delivered to write at home and then we'll get
it to the storage unit.

Speaker 4 (21:48):
So very nice.

Speaker 2 (21:49):
Yeah, I had a question with your residence there and
have you ever had a veteran tell their story about
their life in the military or is that kind of
a touch you saget for them. The reason why I'm
asking is because one of the things that we've kind
of taken on as a as a as a task,
there's something called the Veteran Initiative Program, which is through

(22:12):
the Library of Congress. And Paul can speak on the
back because he was a participant in that program.

Speaker 4 (22:18):
Is that correct?

Speaker 2 (22:18):
Yes, I was so, and tell tell the story.

Speaker 1 (22:22):
Well, basically, what what happens is the Library of Congress
has a number of organizations that will do veterans stories.
And I was invited by Congressman Stuby to come and
do that. I did it at his location is a
little studio there in his remote location. So but that's
what they do. They they get the stories on video

(22:47):
and they they go into their library of Congress. They're
also on YouTube, yes they have. It's a and it's
to let America know what veterans have done, what they did,
what they went through. It's more of an educational process.
But getting veterans to open up is another task in itself.
That's why we're always looking when we do it here

(23:09):
on the radio station. We've interviewed several of my members
of the unit that I was in, So we try
to do that and we try to get them into
Congress also because that's there forever that doesn't go away.

Speaker 2 (23:21):
And I feel that as a by product of that,
I'd say a mental health type of thing to tell
your story, and that I call it the gears and
a watch. We're not the face, we're not the hands,
but the second hands. We're the gears of me. To
watch work and the way the military works is everybody's
job is important because your piece of the pie is
part of a bigger design. And unfortunately, sometimes we as

(23:45):
veterans minimize our contributions, and I feel that one of
the blessings of this programming gives people the opportunity to
tell their contribution to their country. Because I'm like this,
folks angle the reason why I joined the Armies because
it's the oldest branch in the books George Washington. And
then came the Merchant Marine, which became the Navy, and

(24:07):
then after that the Air Force split off the Army
after World War Two. Yes, I'm a war geek, but
the point of matter is I'd like to have if
you can find veterans that want to tell their story
on the radio and BRR and to have them meet
America and have them I share their experiences because even

(24:27):
though we're veterans, we're out of service. Our stories inspired
the youth to replace us, and our stories act as
vendorship in a way. So I'd love to have them
on our show. I think they'd be a good things
to force.

Speaker 1 (24:40):
To Paul, we think, yeah, and now I'll even go remote.
I mean I have the capabilities of going remote, so
so we.

Speaker 5 (24:47):
Actually do interview a lot of veterans. Some of our
funders who participate in certain projects, they ask for these
stories for veterans and believe it or not, some of
the veterans, they're very willing and love to share their story.
They loved just having somebody to listen to them and
being able to share everything that they've they've been through.

Speaker 1 (25:10):
They can come here or I'll go there. I mean
I have that capability now.

Speaker 5 (25:14):
Yeah, we have the transportation. We have two vehicles, so
we can get them anywhere they need to go. For
in Charlotte Coney.

Speaker 1 (25:20):
Well, I like to go there too.

Speaker 4 (25:22):
Okay, Yeah, absolutely, we can do both.

Speaker 3 (25:25):
You, especially if you haven't been Pillage, would be great
for you to go there so you could see it.

Speaker 1 (25:29):
I was there when we had justin go to do
his his his.

Speaker 4 (25:35):
Uh yeah, so you sended our community meeting, So I was.

Speaker 1 (25:40):
There for that. Yeah. I really didn't participate. I was
an observer.

Speaker 4 (25:45):
Really, I remember you now, I remember that was a couple.

Speaker 1 (25:48):
Of months ago, so I would Yeah, it was, and
I I definitely would like to go back anytime, even
if it's just to sit around and for us to
just pash it out with the veterans.

Speaker 5 (26:02):
Yeah, they really appreciate any anybody coming to just peer
support and just.

Speaker 1 (26:07):
Talk, just to be there.

Speaker 5 (26:08):
Just sitting in the community room just kind of waiting
for people to walk through and donate and stuff so
they can chat with them.

Speaker 1 (26:15):
So I'm a good chat.

Speaker 4 (26:18):
It can be.

Speaker 1 (26:20):
Yeah, I love you. You know. Yeah, anytime, especially around
the holidays, if they want to just talk, we don't
have to record it. I'll be there. We'll sneak into
recording every once in a while, but you know, we
need it for the program. But but yeah, no, it's
it's to get them to open up. And I know,
I'm I didn't talk about it for thirty forty years,

(26:45):
so now you can't shut me up.

Speaker 2 (26:48):
And I feel that there's a therapeutic aspect to it, because,
as Justin would say, when you leave service and you
speaking of acronyms that are military specific, sometimes you say
that to a civilian and you get the glazed look
over their face and you're like, oh, I should shut
up because they have no idea what I'm talking about.
And I find that when you find another veteran deck

(27:10):
in nashally can open up to. And I've seen paul
A Gezellion times ATWYMCA with his with his display display,
He's bridged a gap between Afghanistan and Vietnam Korean War,
you name it. He's bridged that gap in a few seconds. Yeah, guy, Afghanistan.
It's now a teacher that left three years ago is

(27:30):
now having a conversation with Paul about the same stuff.
Never changed after forty years.

Speaker 1 (27:36):
I always tell him the technology has changed, but the
soldier hasn't, the sailor hasn't. None of that has changed.
It's just a technology. So and we have the same
thought process. We have the same ups and downs, highs
and lows about our military service. So that doesn't change

(27:57):
just just because fifty years of chased We still have all.

Speaker 2 (28:01):
Of that exactly. And we want to make sure that
your troops over there don't feel that they're isolated or
cut off from us, or you know, don't let distance
be a detriment to you trying to reach out, because
we're here, we can travel, we'll go there. And like
I said, our goal at the end of the day
is to hit that suicide rate and have it go
in the reverse. And if you don't do this is

(28:23):
a step to do that. And folks, yes, it requires
money to do. And I had a question, if someone
want to donate to your organization, can they.

Speaker 5 (28:30):
Absolutely, yes, they can donate in any form. We take
donations for food, we take donations for clothing. Sometimes we
have people doing spring cleaning in their garages and have
old pots and pans and all kinds of dishes. They'll
bring that to our community room and just drop it
off for all the guys. A lot of them come
in with nothing, so when they're going to their new apartments,

(28:51):
they need everything, so we take donations of Sometimes people
come with the gift cards so they can go to
Walmart and get specifically what they want. If anyone's going
to do that, I suggest it's a restricted one so
there's no tobacco or alcohol allowed to be bought. And
then you can also do monetary donations in the farm

(29:12):
of a check or money order.

Speaker 4 (29:13):
We don't take any cash.

Speaker 5 (29:14):
Donations made out to Volunteers of America Puna Gorda, and
that goes into an account for them for any miscellaneous
needs they might have.

Speaker 4 (29:22):
We can take from that money and.

Speaker 3 (29:24):
Yes, where are they work?

Speaker 2 (29:26):
And someone go either online to your office, where are
they able to do this?

Speaker 5 (29:31):
There is a QR code that we just came up
with recently to do. They can definitely do it online
or they can mail it to the office or coming
in person, or like I said, the community room is
usually open all day till nine o'clock at night. So
if they have any items that they'd like to donate,
old clothing or new stuff too, any anything like that,

(29:51):
any household goods, food that hasn't been opened, stuff like that,
they can drop it off at our community room at
any time.

Speaker 1 (30:00):
You know, I have a question for both of you
is if you could wave a wand what resources do
you really need that If people have the ability to donate,
what would those things be.

Speaker 5 (30:16):
So it varies from from month to month. Sometimes we
have an abundant of something and nothing as far as
something else.

Speaker 4 (30:23):
Right now, we really need food.

Speaker 5 (30:25):
We lost our food donate donor so we any kind
of frozen foods, refrigerated food, stuff like that, okay, perishables, perishables.
We have an industrial size refrigerator and freezer, so we
really need food right now.

Speaker 1 (30:40):
Okay, that's unusual because usually they're looking for can goods
that don't spoil. But you're looking for just the opposite.
Not only just that, yes, but you need both of those.
But but that's good to know that if we have
an excess of frozen type foods now you're talking like
prepared foods like hot dogs, hamburgers.

Speaker 5 (30:58):
Anything anything. So they have full kitchen so they can
go and cook meals. We used to get a lot
of frozen meats, but we're very scarce on them right now.
Our freezers have been pretty empty. But other or we
have people who come in and they'll bring individual meals
that are already prepared to bring like twenty four of
them every week.

Speaker 4 (31:16):
Stuff like that.

Speaker 1 (31:17):
Oh okay, so.

Speaker 4 (31:18):
It's anything really any kind.

Speaker 1 (31:20):
Of food that Okay, what else?

Speaker 4 (31:22):
Some of our.

Speaker 5 (31:23):
Ongoing needs, like I was telling Kim, which is part
of how we got connected, and station's name Helping Hearts
for Heroes, Helping Hearts for Heroes, So sorry, and so
some of our ongoing needs are twin sheets, pillows, blankets,
hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and that's just kind of a
consistent thing that we always need because all the veterans

(31:44):
coming in all get a new twin set of sheets,
a comforter, a blanket, a towel, and they're just kind
of always in need of those.

Speaker 4 (31:52):
Toilet trees and hygiene.

Speaker 1 (31:53):
Products, both male and tree.

Speaker 5 (31:55):
Maal, Yes, right now we have two females. We the
most we ever had was four females. Sometimes we don't
have any females. It's just kind of is based on
the need. When we have referrals for them, I'll open
up a unit for them. But if we have a
bunch of mail referral and no female referrals, well but you.

Speaker 1 (32:10):
Can still stock filos. You're going to need them eventually.

Speaker 3 (32:14):
Yes, we're always looking for the products that we can
give them to the village. So you know, again the
blankets and anything that you need for the bedroom, bathroom
and kitchen, especially for when they discharge from the from
the program. But also you know, we're at this point
now because of our five oh one C three we're
able to take cash. So it really like she said,

(32:36):
it's just we need it all. There's nothing that we
don't need. And so with Charlotte County, we absolutely have
some wonderful people out there that are so giving.

Speaker 1 (32:47):
So we have a list of items and that type
of stuff. Where can they contact you or how can
they contact you?

Speaker 5 (32:54):
I can be contacted at my office at twelve fifty
Taylor Road in Punta Gorda. My phone numbers nine four one,
five zero five nine two six one and then my
email is n orts O r t I z at
v o A dash f l A dot o RG.

(33:16):
So it's best, Like like I said, it varies from
month to month on what our needs are. It's best
to contact me to see what our needs are for
that at that time. If somebody is interested in donating
items or specific things, and if somebody wants to donate monetary,
they can go to vo A Florida dot org and

(33:37):
there's a place for them to select our location and
do it online. Or they can provide checks or money
orders mail to our location or dropped off as well.

Speaker 1 (33:48):
Okay and Kim, how can I get a hold of you.

Speaker 3 (33:50):
So they can go to our website Helping Hearts for
Heroes dot com. They can call me at nine four
one seven seven nine sixty six three five. And then
of course there's a list on that website of everything
that we can possibly need that I said earlier. We
have a link to Amazon, so they don't want to
go out to the store and be aggravated with all
the shopping. They can just go right to that and

(34:11):
it will be automatically be delivered to us.

Speaker 1 (34:14):
They've kind of made it painless.

Speaker 3 (34:16):
We've tried to do it, so it is painless. If
you're like me, I hate to shop, so yes, that's
the best way for me to do it. So one
of the things that we don't do is the furniture part.
But my understanding is Saint Vincent de Paul helps with
the furniture and Saint Vincent de Paul does not charge
for that furniture, which is also nice.

Speaker 1 (34:34):
Wow, we've got it covered.

Speaker 5 (34:36):
Yes, So that's one thing we don't take just because
we don't have the storage to take furniture. We'll take
small items like end tables or a kitchen table once
in a while, but as far as large furniture items,
Saint Vincent is a great resource for us. We send
any of our guys that are moving into Charlotte County
there and they are able to get a whole house furnished,

(34:57):
usually from Saint Vincent de Paul.

Speaker 1 (35:00):
Okay, so you must have some feel good stories, both
of yous. So why don't we, when the time we
have left, do a couple of those.

Speaker 5 (35:09):
Yes, one of my favorite stories is one of the
most successful. Well, I actually have more than one, obviously,
but I have a couple of veterans that came in,
specifically the most recent one. They came in from literal homelessness.
They came to our program, came through our program. I

(35:30):
think he ended up getting one hundred percent service connected.
He graduated the program, and then he rented our unit
that we have next door. We rent one unit to
the public, but it's always been rented to a veteran
that has graduated our program. So he successfully completed the program,

(35:51):
rented our unit. It's completely stable financially, mentally, he gives back,
he volunteers, and then he took it a step further
and went on to buy a house with his VA
home loan. So in a period of three years, he
went from literal homelessness to being a homeowner with his
VA loans.

Speaker 1 (36:12):
And they all started walking through the door. That's the key.

Speaker 4 (36:16):
Yeah, yeah, you know.

Speaker 3 (36:18):
And it's sad because I mean, I don't know if
I wasn't in the healthcare industry, if I would even
know about the veteran's village. And actually it was even
long before I met Nancy, one of my other partners,
in a community that I worked in. They were collecting
some personal items for them and I said, what are
we doing that for? And she said, and that's how

(36:39):
I've originally found out about the Veterans Homeless Village.

Speaker 4 (36:42):
So yeah, unfortunately, I hear that a lot.

Speaker 5 (36:44):
And even myself, I lived in Pinta Guarda for two
years and drove past there every day and didn't know
that it was a Veterans village because it says Volunteers
of America, so you you automatically assume like, oh, it's
a volunteer agency.

Speaker 3 (36:57):
And it looks and it's a regular apartment complex, so
you just all these are apartments and so forth. As
I said, it's just so well kept and everything. So it's,
you know, which is important to me because our veterans
deserve to have a nice place to lay their head,
you know, and to have resources for them. So again, Nancy,
I said this earlier, but it's definitely kudos to you

(37:17):
because it's it's very touching to go down there and see.
And when we did the presentation last December, we pulled
in with this huge semi truck that was filled from
top to bottom, front to back, and then a community
bus that was filled to the brim. You know, in
these veterans, again we're a little skittich. But then they
started warming up to us. And then then the gentleman who,

(37:41):
like I said, had lived in his car for six
hundred days before he even came to your program, and
how excited he was, and he was like I get
to pick what I need, I get to shop, you know,
and how excited he was, you know, in that respect.
That and that's what it was all about, is getting
them the stuff that they need.

Speaker 5 (38:00):
That is satly the most rewarding part is when you
see that smile on their face and that wusa on
their breath, that they have somewhere safe to sleep and
they have support.

Speaker 1 (38:10):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (38:11):
It's actually his picture was in the paper about a
week or so ago because we were interviewed again regarding
our organization and so they had pulled that picture from
last year and so forth. So but yeah, that big
smile on his face and everything. And you know, we
have some great events coming up and I think Nancy
you'll be there. The first one is the Veterans Family
Fun Day. Everything that's being done that day is completely

(38:33):
free to our veterans. It's Saturday, November the eighth, from
eleven to five. It's being held at the Moose Lodge
at thirty four sixty two Loveland Boulevard here in Port Charlotte.
So the idea behind it is there's gonna be lots
of things for the kids to do, lots of resources.
So that's where Nancy's coming in. She's going to have
you know information about what they do. And there will

(38:55):
be several organizations from disabled veterans, the Family Court or
the VA Court. There are so many things that will
be happening that day, and like I said, so many
fun things. Moose Lodge, kudos to you. They're donating all
the food, so hamburgers and hot dogs and again everything
is completely free to our veterans and their families, which

(39:15):
is a wonderful thing. They are so deserving of that.
The other thing, this is actually being done by right
at Home. All the proceeds from this event will be
going to the Helping Hearts for Heroes. It's called high
Rollers for Heroes. It's on November twenty second. It's a
Saturday night from seven p to ten pm. If you

(39:39):
want the information, the website is our ah heregiver hub
dot com. The event itself will be held at Riverwood
on seven seventy six. The tickets are twenty five dollars.
As I said, all the proceeds do go back to
our helping Hearts for Heroes, which means that we can

(40:00):
help Nancy's veterans even more so. So if you have
any questions, please feel free to give right at home
a call or myself at nine four one seven seven,
nine six six three five.

Speaker 5 (40:11):
Thank you so much him for your support and for
what you do for our veterans in our community.

Speaker 3 (40:17):
Well, you know, again it comes back to Heidi, Sean
and myself coming brainstorming and then running into people like
Jay and and Paul and all the veterans that you
know are on our board now and so forth. So
it's definitely needed. I think one of the hardest things
that I can tell you, you know, just in my personal career,
was that a gentleman that you know, he was in

(40:39):
Vietnam wanted to just drink himself to death, and you know,
would get mad at me for not letting him do that.
But you know, it's just you know, the memories, you know,
and to think that, like you know, Jay, I'm just
leaving to take a very a very what do you
want to call it, but the call, and I want

(41:00):
to say what it was really for. But you know
one of our veterans, young man that everybody was out
looking for, and how he called into the culvert pipe
because he couldn't deal with the PTSD. And I think
that's where that mental health part of your program really
needs to be so promote, so much more promoted because
of what the veterans go.

Speaker 5 (41:18):
Through and letting them know that there's people here who
care about them and that are there for them. Sometimes,
like you said, they're skittish at first, but once we
get them out of their rooms and into the group environment,
they really enjoy it, and they really appreciate it, and
they love talking to people.

Speaker 3 (41:35):
Right they do, you know, And I think once they
realized that where we truly do care, We're not just
doing this for the pictures and the articles in the
newspaper and so forth. It's coming from our hearts, you know.
You know, just even with my stepdad, you know, he
wore his veterans cap saying that, you know, Korean War
all the time.

Speaker 1 (41:56):
We you know, you talked about your location. The first
time I was there, I would have driven right by it.
It does not And I think that's one of the
benefits of our veterans that you take care of. There
is that it doesn't look like they're going into an institution.
It looks like they're going into an apartment complex. It

(42:17):
really is. It hides it, and yet that's both a
negative and a positive. The positive is they're going to
a place that looks like a home, you know, an
apartment complex. It's their home for that time period, but
it's well hidden. You know, it's a two sided sword there.
I was amazed when I drove up there. I'm like,
am I at the right place? But I did see

(42:39):
your sign, so I knew where I was going. But yeah,
that's that's kind of the great institution.

Speaker 5 (42:44):
Like, it's not a residential treatment. There's not an inpatient facility.
They're free to voluntarily come and go as they please.
But it is a program.

Speaker 1 (42:53):
Yet when I was there, there was a young man
that was doing some landscaping for you, but he was
not there. He was off on his own, but he
came back to help out.

Speaker 4 (43:05):
I mean that's yeah.

Speaker 1 (43:06):
Really they are committed to it.

Speaker 4 (43:08):
They really we get.

Speaker 5 (43:09):
I have people who graduated the program years ago who
still stop by and just say hi, and sometimes I'll
help them with something simple like their food stamp application
or something. But they they all they come back a
lot and they like to to feel that sense of
community still after they leave.

Speaker 1 (43:27):
They're coming home, is what it is. They're coming to
their to you know, we always go home to mom
and dad, and we went to their place. Well that's
their place now is they come home to that.

Speaker 5 (43:38):
It's nice and that's that's true. They know that they
can count on us.

Speaker 1 (43:42):
Well, he was very impressive, the young man justin and
I probably talked to him for about a half hour.
So he wasn't doing any work, so we had to
stop let him get back to what he was doing.
But it was it was what sold us on on
your organization and what you do.

Speaker 3 (44:00):
Goes back to like you said, it's kind of you
kind of drive by. It just looks like an apartment complex,
you know, but they have everything. I mean, like they
are true apartments. They've got their own little kitchen and
so forth. It's not you know, this big communal living,
you know. And just to even have the community center
the swimming pool, you know, and I've been there a
couple of times where people have actually been in the

(44:21):
swimming pool, so it's not that it's not being used,
but it gives them a chance to be outside and
do some swimming, exercise or just just enjoy the fresh
air and not I guess, be out there in the
everywherever they can see them and everything. It's just nice
that they have those things that and feels it feels
like home. It is home, it is home, doesn't feel
like it is home.

Speaker 4 (44:40):
And the raised garden beds to know, they do wonderful.

Speaker 3 (44:43):
Okay, so what's in the raised garden beds.

Speaker 5 (44:45):
We have some peppers and some basil going right now,
and I think we had sweet potatoes, but they picked
all of those, so there's like ton of them. So
trying to encourage the guys to get more involved with
that we got. We just got a bunch of top
soil donated depots.

Speaker 1 (45:00):
So they're going to be veteran gourmet cooks. I hope
it's not like the best holes that we had.

Speaker 3 (45:08):
That's what they're trying to get away from. Yeah, yeah,
that's why they're doing it.

Speaker 4 (45:11):
Maybe that's what we can do next.

Speaker 5 (45:12):
Have somebody teach them how to cook different meals with
those with those ingredients.

Speaker 4 (45:16):
Oh there, you go, do a cooking class for.

Speaker 1 (45:18):
Them there's somebody out there that likes to gourmet cook.
You've got a place to go and show off and
train at the same time. So that's an invitation out
there to our listeners.

Speaker 3 (45:32):
Well, Nancy, I promise you will not be me because
that will not work.

Speaker 5 (45:35):
Well.

Speaker 3 (45:38):
Well, Nancy, I really truly appreciate you being on the
show with us today. Again. Will you repeat your phone
number and address so that the everybody has its of
they know of a veteran that they can at least
contact you in some way to give you that information.

Speaker 5 (45:54):
Yes, Volunteers of America of Florida went to Garda Veterans Village.
We're located at fifty Taylor Street. The office is in
building three, Unit three twenty two, Punta Gorda, Florida, three
three N two and then my office cont contact information
is nine four one five zero five nine two six one.

(46:19):
The best way to reach me is usually by email.
I can go back and forth and get everybody's information
if somebody is interested in coming into the program that
way more accurately and forwarded to the VA and whatnot.

Speaker 4 (46:33):
My email is n O.

Speaker 5 (46:36):
R T I Z at V A dash f As
in Florida.

Speaker 4 (46:45):
L a dot O r G.

Speaker 3 (46:49):
Okay, thank you.

Speaker 1 (46:50):
So there's your challenge. We need to fill up their
pantry and their freezer and that's going to be ongoing.
And Kim, how how can I get hold of yourzation
and go through our events one more time?

Speaker 3 (47:04):
Okay? So the first thing coming up is Veterans Family
Fun Day that's coming right around the corner November the eighth,
which is kind of scary that November is here already,
but it's eleven to five being held at the Moose
Lodge at thirty four sixty two Loveland Boulevard here in
Port Charlotte. That is a day for our veterans and
their families which is totally free to our veterans. There

(47:27):
are games and things for the children, of food and
definitely entertainment, so please come out and join us. You'll
see Nancy and myself and Shawna will be there since
she's not able to be with us today. And the
second event, which is totally being put on by Right
at Home, which is Sewn is the business development director
for them. It's called high Rollers for Heroes and it

(47:49):
is November twenty second, from seven pm to ten pm.
If you go to the website are a h caregiver
hub dot co. There'll be more information there, plus QR
codes and where you can buy your tickets. Tickets are
twenty five dollars. If you want just information on Helping
Hearts for Heroes, it is Helping heartsfourhroes dot com. My

(48:13):
phone number is nine four one seven seven nine six
six three five if you want to contact me.

Speaker 1 (48:20):
Well, this has been a really lively back and forth.
We know a lot more about both organizations. We want
to continue to have you on from time to time,
so keep us up and if you need anything from us,
by all means contact us. So at this point I'm
going to say rally pointers, this dismissed.

Speaker 2 (48:41):
All right, folks, we just had another great show for you,
and what I wanted to do this time is have
a little conversation with you, my producer, because you know what,
it's almost been three years saying man times flying.

Speaker 1 (48:54):
Yeah, we're approaching the hundredth episode.

Speaker 2 (48:57):
Wow, and folks, who would funk A crazy veteran has
an idea and we're on the We're on the air
for one hundred episodes and want to make sure you
guys are on board on that. But Before we get
to that, we'll I have a little conversation with you, America,
with myself and Zaying, and I think you might like
what we have to say, So give me a minute.

(49:18):
As you know listeners, far too long, the veteran experience
in this country has been treated like a side story,
or we wouldn't exist a foot up to a main
drama of American life. We are thanked for our service
and then often left standing on the curb watching to
pray and go by think our time service is over well.

(49:40):
The rally Point Media Network was built on one simple,
powerful truth, and a truth every veter understands. We need
a place to link up, communicate, a place which a
place to share our intelligence that's funny, share a burden,
share our stories, and and help others the way forward

(50:03):
in a sense, living up to our name. A true
rally Point. But today we stop waiting for America to
ask us about us. We're going to start showing America
who we are at the core. That being said, effective immediately,
Rally Point Media Network is becoming rally Point Usay again, folks,

(50:27):
only America is oh number one Rally Point USA. This
is not a new name or brand change. We are
becoming a new mandate. It's an open invitation for everyone
that listens. We are interested in the noise of Washington
or the tribal politics that divide this nation. Currently, we're
building a new platform, a place for a dialogue that

(50:49):
is neither red nor blue, but plain old fashioned American
heart and soul. We are here to illuminate the issues
that matter most, and here is our core belief. Variant
issues are not a separate set of problems. For many
other problems that we face. We are, or they are
a microcosm of every problem that every American citizen faces

(51:13):
at some time or another. Think about it. When a
veteran struggles with mental health issues or access that is
the health care crisis in America. When a veteran can't
find stable, meaningful employment after service, that is the American
labor challenge. When veterans face hurdles and securing affordable housing
or accessing reliable transportation, that is the infrastructure and community

(51:37):
crisis in Middle America.

Speaker 1 (51:39):
Today.

Speaker 2 (51:40):
Our needs as veterans, created by the stress of our
service are simply the most acute, the most in some words, severe,
most visible symptoms of the larger national struggle. We all
service every day of our lives. Here at Ypoint, USA,
we are establishing the new center of man for honest

(52:01):
solutions and orientated and functional discussions. This is a movement,
not a political machine. We welcome every independent thinker, every
local activist, every small time leader, every nonprofit, every for profit,
and every citizen group that feels ignored by extreme ends

(52:22):
of the spectrum. If you're focused on community, on resilience,
and I'm fixing real problems, whether in the VFW, a
local library, or our fault a volunteer program, your voice
is welcome at Riley Point, USA. We will not be
a place for talking at each other. We will be
a place for working with each other. We will use

(52:44):
our platforms, use our voices, our resources, and our local
folks and red blood Americans to make one thing shine
as it ours has been, and that is and has
been the American dream. That said, as you're founding host

(53:04):
the Sage James Hemingway and all the hosts that represent
the voices of America's number one Rally Point USA, we
say thank you for your continued support. We thank you
today for being with us, and we cannot wait to
see you down the road, whereas we say, then, now

(53:26):
and forever, thank you all, and dismissed