From: kali@digex.digex.com (Kali Tal)
Subject: Sweaters for Homeless Veterans
Organization: Express Access Public Access UNIX, Greenbelt, Maryland USA
Distribution: US 
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 22:15:42 GMT


I received the following press release from Anne Rogers and 
thought it would be interesting to some VWAR-L readers.
     Kali Tal

SHELTER SWEATERS

Hand and machine knitting contest of men's sweaters to be 
donated to the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans which 
serves veterans from World War II through the Persian Gulf.  

Categories:  Machine Knit, Hand Knit.  Each entry must be marked 
either machine knit or hand knit, original or from pattern, and 
come with the nitter's name, address, telephone number(s) along 
with 50 cents for each sweater (shipping to Boston). Sweaters are 
to be sent to:  Shelter Sweaters, 301 Greason Rd., Carlisle, PA 
17013.  Winners will be announced on Veterans' Day 1993 and the 
sweaters will be shipped to the New England Shelter for Homeless 
Veterans.

The Shelter is a project of the Vietnam Veterans Workshop, a 
nonprofit veterans support and advocacy group based in Boston, 
MA. Since opening its doors in December 1989, the Shelter has 
assisted over 2,000 homeless veterans. The day and emergency 
overnight shelter is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They fill 
150 beds every night. Residents are provided with clean clothes 
and a shower. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, over 15,000 
meals a month. Full-time counselors advise and offer referrals to 
veterans on Veterans Benefits, education programs, legal aid, 
medical treatment and PTSD programs. Counselors also arrange 
detoxification referrals, provide aftercare and support and 
encourage participation in a recognized sobriety program. 
Volunteer mental health professionals offer diagnoses and 
treatment. Job counselors provide periodic pre-employment 
workshops and job placement services. The Shelter sponsors a 
security Guard Training Program and Computer Training Program. 
In addition, the Shelter employs many residents in a number of 
transitional employment positions within its Food Service, 
Housekeeping, Engineering and Supply Departmnets. The New 
England College of Optometry has established an eye clinic at the 
Shelter. Vets receive free eye care, including examinations, 
prescriptions, treatment and glasses. The Shelter is in the process 
of rehabilitating the ten-story Court Street Building in Boston and 
building 59 units of single room occupancy housing on four of the 
floors for the veterans who will have secured employment while in 
the Shelter Program.

There is also the National Coalition of Homeless Vets Service 
Providers with affiliates in 39 cities. Should there be more sweaters 
than the New England Shelter can use, they can be distributed 
through the Coalition to vets in other cities. It's estimated that over 
one third of the nation's 500,000 homeless are vets-- that's over 
150,000 nationwide.

The purpose of this contest is to focus on this segment of homeless 
and I would hope once the contest is over the knitting will continue 
for veterans in areas where knitters live or garments would be sent 
to the New England Shelter for distribution where needed.  

Submitted by: Anne Rogers
		6410 Lemon Street
		East Petersburg, PA 17520-1134
		717/560-9515
		FAX: 717/898-7909