Park to host housewares collection for Homeward Vets group June 16

Date: 6/13/2012

June 13, 2012

By Debbie Gardner

debbieg@thereminder.com

WESTFIELD — Imagine moving into an apartment without a set of dishes or glasses, pots and pans or a way to make a cup of coffee.

For some long-term homeless veterans in Western Massachusetts, that kind of dilemma is a reality. There are government programs that can help them finally find a place to live, but once moved in, they lack the essentials of living.

A local non-profit group — the Homeward Vets Organization — works to make sure veterans have these types of life essentials as they transition form homelessness to permanent homes.

On June 16 from 9 a.m. to noon, Stanley Park will assist Homeward Vets in solving this problem by collecting small kitchenwares and appliances for the organization.

The collection will take place in the Asian Garden parking lot on Margaret Lane across from the Veterans' Memorial.

Stanley Park Development Director Amy L'Esperance said Homeward Vets is looking for "dinnerware, cookware, and small appliances such as toasters, microwaves, toaster ovens and coffee makers" among other things. The organization will accept new or gently used items. It will also take cash donations, which will be converted into supermarket gift cards to, as L'Esperance said, "help fill [veterans] cupboards."

L'Esperance said she met Homeward Vets president, Dave Felty, at a local Chamber of Commerce event and, after talking with him, felt hosting a collection for his organization was a natural fit for the park.

"We like to honor those who have served and are serving," L'Esperance said of the park's commitment to veterans. "We thought it would be a wonderful collaboration to help this organization fill the homes of veterans."

She said the park's easily accessible location and its "ability to draw people" also made the collaboration a natural fit.

L'Esperance said she has already heard from individuals who are downsizing and are pleased their items will go to a good cause. She said Homeward Vets would also take small TVs, gently used towels and sheets, curtains and new pillows — "anything that makes a house a home."

For more information about the Stanley Park collection, contact L'Esperance at 572-2900, or Felty by phone at 203-1479 or by email at info@homewardvets.org.

For more information on Homeward Vets, visit www.homewardvets.org.