Veterans helping veterans on the day to honor them all

With temperatures dropping, a team of volunteers gathered at Warman Woods, one of HVAF’s housing properties, for a winterization project to make sure previously homeless veterans living at HVAF's supportive housing stay warm this winter.

The one-day project took place on Veterans Day. Heather Meiser, an HVAF volunteer, along with twenty-four incarcerated veterans from the Indianapolis Reentry Education Facility (IREF) and ten IUPUI students pitched in to winterize six housing units on the property. The volunteers worked on cleaning and calking windows along with other home winterizing duties.

"We knew weatherizing their homes was needed as part of "Phase I" of the Warman renovation project," said Heather Meiser. “This will help the veterans fight off the cold winter weather.”

It also will help HVAF be the best steward of donor dollars by helping to reduce costs related to utility bills and freeing up funds for other programs, according to Ron Shelley, HVAF's Chief Operating Officer.

Navy veteran Daryl Boyd along with HVAF staffers helped coordinate the volunteers with the Indianapolis Reentry Education Facility where he now works. Boyd was once homeless and came to HVAF in 2008 for help.

“I thought it was a good idea our incarcerated veterans to give back and help HVAF veterans on such a meaningful project,” says Daryl.

“These (IREF) men were excited to know that society still wants and needs them and that they can provide a service,” Daryl says. “They were excited to know people were taking in their efforts.”

Daryl Boyd says he hopes to continue to partner with HVAF on additional projects.

“It’s just a great way to help and give back to the veterans,” says John Wilkes, an Army veteran and IREF participant. “I’m happy to give back to the public instead of being a burden on society.”

Special thanks to these business and individuals:

Barto's Catering & Concessions
Menards
Lowes
Lois Carnicom

If you'd like to help with the larger Warman renovation project, please contact Tina Shelley, HVAF Volunteer Coordinator at tshelley@hvaf.org or 317-951-0688.

HVAF is seeking an auditor

HVAF of Indiana, Inc. is seeking proposals to accomplish an annual audit of the statement of financial position for the year ending December 2012. The audit will include statements of activities, functional expenses and cash flows. The audit must be accomplished in accordance with auditing standards and generally accepted procedures (GAAP). The audit also must include preparation and filing of state and federal returns (NP-20 and Form 990). Interested auditors or firms may send their proposal with estimates of their charges, NLT December 14, 2012 to HVAF of Indiana, Attn: Board Chairman, P O Box 441761, Indianapolis, IN 46244.  

HVAF of Indiana, Inc. winterization project

On November 11, 2012 (Veteran’s Day) from 9:00 to 1:00 p.m., more than 50 volunteers will roll up their sleeves to help winterize one of HVAF's housing properties. The Warman Woods property is home to 47 previously homeless veterans, and work will include calking windows both interior and exterior as well as cleaning the windows. We need your help in collecting items to complete the winterization project. Estimated items needed include for the 6 individual properties:

•    Monetary donations
•    25 mini blinds per property
•    25 window coverings per property of various dimensions
•    A case of calking per property
•    25 plastic weather window kits per property
•    16 door weather stripping kits per property
•    (96) 9-volt batteries for smoke alarms

For more information, please contact HVAF volunteer Heather Meiser at designteam234@yahoo.com or 317-402-5129.

Upcoming Events

Whether you enjoy running or watching a good film, there are several ways to support HVAF. The Heartland films will benefit HVAF. Tickets are available for online purchase now through October 27th. $10 per person, $2 goes to HVAF if you use on-line promo code "HVAF". Heartland has chosen to support HVAF by giving back $2 from every online ticket sale. Remember, $2 of each $8 online ticket will come back to HVAF when using the promo code “HVAF” for each ticket purchased.

Register here: www.HeartlandFilmFestival.org

_______________________________________

5K run in Brownsburg to benefit HVAF

On Saturday, November 10, members of DECA at Brownsburg High School in conjunction with Hike for Hoosier Vets will host a 5k run/walk to benefit HVAF. The run/walk begins at 9 a.m. at Williams Park in Brownsburg.

Cost: Online Pre-Registration: $20 per person. Closes on November 1.
Day-of Registration: $25 or $20 plus one canned food item. Day-of registration ends at 8:30 am and does not guarantee a t-shirt.

Time: 9 a.m.
Address: 940 S. Locust Lane, Brownsburg, IN 46112

Register here: hoofinitforhoosierve.wix.com/hoofinit

________________________________________

A canned good for a free yoga class

Crossfit Naptown in downtown Indianapolis will hold a 21 Day Yoga Challenge to help stock HVAF’s food pantry. The challenge will run from Nov. 1-21, and is open to the public. The only payment required is a canned good (specifically canned meat or pasta) or gently used blankets, coats or toiletries.

Here is a list of classes during the Crossfit Naptown 21 Day Yoga Challenge.

Monday- 8 a.m.
Tuesday- noon
Wednesday- 7 p.m.
Thursday- 7 p.m.
Friday- noon
Saturday- 11:30 a.m.
Sunday- 10 a.m.

Calling all lawyers

HVAF of Indiana, Inc. is issuing a "Request For Good Ideas" (RFGI) in an effort to provide effective legal assistance to the homeless veterans we serve: literally every homeless veteran who has ever walked through our doors has had at least one legal issue that is an impediment to his success. HVAF’s initial goal is to engage the entire Indianapolis legal community in a structured discussion on the topic of legal services for homeless veterans. Ultimately, it is HVAF’s goal to create a model of legal services based upon two ideas: (1) that success is defined as ending the client’s homelessness and (2) that our efforts may create a model for the provision of legal services to our homeless neighbors who are not veterans.

So, how can you help? HVAF is now taking proposals for how to provide legal services to veterans. Written responses should be sent electronically to Dr. Charles Haenlein, HVAF president and CEO, at CHaenlein@hvaf.org no later than Oct. 19, 2012. Questions can be directed to Dr. Haenlein.
A copy of the “Request for Good Ideas” is available at the link below.

Please open the "Request for Good Ideas" document on our website for more information.

Under HVAF’s vision, attorneys working with veterans would get to see the whole story. Bill Moreau, partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP and tireless advocate for the homeless, noted lawyers celebrate victory when they resolve the legal problem. But that is not the end of the story, and success at HVAF is not declared until the client’s homelessness ends.

View the Indiana Lawyer web story to learn more about how attorneys are helping homeless veterans.