Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Anchorage, Alaska VA for inviting us to their Veterans Service Organization (VSO) Day last Wednesday. Our Chief Executive Officer got to meet so many of the wonderful veterans that we have proudly served for years and got to meet the incredibly dedicated VA staff there. Words are insufficient to express our gratitude for this opportunity and the lessons learned from Ms. Peggy Bateman and Ms. Jurileen Fex.
What we confronted in Anchorage was a very moving and eye-opening experience. As any of our volunteers and staff know, the Anchorage, AK Stand Down is always one of our biggest and also one of our favorites to serve. So many of us really don’t think about the homeless of Alaska, however it is a huge problem that we are committed to helping. During a walk through Delaney Park looking for the war monument, it was shocking to see all of the souls who were sleeping rough. This was particularly jarring, as this city is known for its below-freezing Winters and its dangerous wildlife (bears, moose, etc.), which we learned can (and often do) find their way into the city. We learned that Alaska has more veterans per capita than any other state in the Union and were shocked at the high cost of living in Alaska. Factors such as these make it increasingly harder for those experiencing homelessness to recover.
After this experience, we are more committed than ever to end homelessness in our veteran community in Alaska and every other state in the Union! Let us redouble our efforts to make this goal a reality!
