The Veterans Coalition of Pennsylvania is continuing to expand its support for veterans in Berks County while preparing for its annual Save 22 event in September, an effort aimed at raising awareness of veteran suicide and supporting the organization’s ongoing programs.
Michael Weil, Executive Director of Daily Operations for the Veterans Coalition of Pennsylvania, said the volunteer-based organization works to address needs ranging from transportation and food insecurity to clothing, household items and financial assistance.
“We are a volunteer-based, 100% volunteer organization,” Weil said. “Every can of soup, every sock, every dollar goes back to a veteran in one way or another.”
Among the coalition’s growing programs is transportation for veterans traveling to medical appointments. Weil said the organization has four vans on the road five days a week with six drivers, taking veterans to appointments at the Lebanon VA Medical Center and other medical providers.
The organization is also active in addressing food insecurity. Weil said VCOP maintains four freezers and a basement stocked with food purchased or received through donations. Volunteers will deliver food directly to veterans who are homebound or otherwise unable to get it themselves.
Those services are also provided through monthly Stand Down events in Reading and Pottstown. The Reading event is held at City Park in the parking lot above the basketball courts, while the Pottstown event is held at Riverfront Park. VCOP’s website lists the gatherings for the second (Reading) and fourth Saturdays (Pottstown) of each month, respectively.
At the Stand Downs, veterans can receive groceries, a hot meal, clothing, toiletries and other necessities while connecting with veteran service organizations and other resources.
“We do 150 veterans a month, just at our Stand Downs,” Weil said of the combined Reading and Pottstown events, adding that the figure does not include veterans assisted through transportation and other programs.
Weil said the food operation has grown considerably. On a given Saturday, he estimated VCOP can distribute about 1,200 pounds of food, including cereal, pasta, sauces, meat, fruits and vegetables.
Prepared meals are also available for veterans who may not have access to a stove.
“We have taken it to the next level,” Weil said. “When they come there, they realize that they’re getting enough food to last them at least a week and a half, two weeks.”
The organization also assists veterans moving into housing by helping obtain furniture and other household necessities. Weil said VCOP has helped with electric bills and phones and works with other organizations to connect veterans with resources it cannot provide directly.
The goal, Weil said, is to make asking for help as easy as possible.
That approach is influenced by Weil’s own experience after military service. A U.S. Army veteran who served during Desert Storm, Weil said he struggled for years without understanding how post-traumatic stress disorder and his combat experiences were affecting him.
“I didn’t know why I was having trouble,” Weil said. “I didn’t understand PTSD. I didn’t understand what those things did to me being in combat. I just thought I was angry.”
His struggles eventually led to psychiatric hospitalization and suicidal thoughts. Support from other veterans, he said, helped him recover and ultimately shaped his approach to helping others.
“I understand it so well that this mission that I’m on for the last five years is that important to me, that I want to get the help there before they get to that point,” Weil said.
Weil said he now sees veterans who once came to VCOP seeking assistance return to volunteer at Stand Downs or spend time with others they have met through the organization.
“A lot of the veterans that volunteer with us now are the veterans that we helped,” he said.
The coalition’s upcoming Save 22 event is another part of that effort.
The event will be held Sunday, Sept. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Nativity BVM Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, 2111 Philadelphia Ave. in Cumru Township.
The centerpiece will be a display of 660 American flags arranged to spell “SAVE 22.” The event will also include food trucks, vendors and veteran resources.
Weil said the event was developed around veteran suicide awareness and is held in September in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month.
This year, VCOP is also offering a flag sponsorship program. For a $22 donation, a flag can be dedicated in honor or memory of a veteran. Sponsors can provide the veteran’s name and rank, which will be placed on a card attached to one of the flags.
After the display remains in place for about two weeks, Weil said the sponsored flag will be removed and given to the donor.
“They can remember forever that they’re supporting their loved one, or their friend, or their brother, or whoever it might be that they’re donating that $22 to,” Weil said.
Money raised through fundraisers helps support expenses associated with VCOP’s programs, including fuel and insurance for its transportation services.
The organization is also continually seeking donations of hygiene products and nonperishable food. Weil said body wash, shampoo, canned vegetables, soups, canned meats and other shelf-stable foods are consistently needed because supplies move quickly.
People interested in learning more about the organization can also attend a Stand Down. The next Reading Stand Down is scheduled for Sept. 12 at City Park.
“Come to the Stand Down. Meet the veterans. See what we do,” Weil said. “See that whatever you’re going to donate is going to the right place.”
While much of VCOP’s work has centered on Berks County, Weil said he hopes to expand the organization’s reach throughout Pennsylvania. The coalition has already assisted veterans outside the county, and some forms of assistance can be coordinated remotely.
“In the end, I’d like to be the guy that’s getting a phone call from Pittsburgh, or the guy that’s getting a phone call from Altoona,” Weil said. “That would be my vision, to be the Veterans Coalition of Pennsylvania.”
“I want to be the premier veterans resource,” he added.
