RVs for veterans program reaches milestone

November 9, 2014

OPINION By BECKY JORGESON

We donated our 30th RV to a homeless veteran here on the Central Coast on Saturday.

Many thanks to all donors who opened your hearts to our veterans who can’t be helped through other avenues. Because of you, more veterans who were living on the streets are now in their own little homes, safe from harm and out of the weather.

Some are parked in mobile home or RV parks; some are at private clubs (Elks, American Legion, Moose); some choose to be mobile and stay in private, county, state, or national campgrounds. Some have left the state for greener pastures.

After three years, Hope’s Village is turning this successful program over to Paso Cares. Vice President Cherie Michaelson has mechanics on board who volunteer their time to work on RVs needing repair.

It’s a simple program – no money exchanges hands, no liability incurred, no lengthy paperwork or process. We hook the donor up with the veteran in need. They go to the DMV, change title, and get the vehicle registered. Insurance is purchased, and off the veteran goes with his or her home on wheels.

We get calls from all over the country about this program. We advise others how to start it up — with a desire to help, a telephone and a computer. Thanks to the simplicity and success of this program, people in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Diego counties are starting their own RV’s for veterans program!

Please call Cherie at (805) 712-7067 with any information or questions. And thank you all for caring…what a way to honor our veterans (http://www.pasocares.org).