CLEARFIELD – The SkillsUSA chapter at the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center has teamed up with Tomorrow’s Hope Veterans Transitional Housing and Service Center to raise money for the veterans currently living at the facility.
In a recent visit to Tomorrow’s Hope, SkillsUSA members, Julia Baney, Tori Hamilton, Sadie Barrett and Ashley Luzier learned that the service center opened in 2011 and welcomes any homeless veteran in Pennsylvania. It can house up to 70 individuals at a time but averages about 30.
The veterans can stay there from two weeks to six months. It is currently open to male veterans only, but there is a second building in progress that will house female veterans. While the veterans’ stay is paid for through the Veteran’s Administration, Tomorrow’s Hope still welcomes donations of items to help offset their overhead.
The CCCTC is serving as a drop-off site for these items through March 31. Needed items include the following: canned goods, blankets, towels, washcloths, soap, shampoo, pots and pans, shower curtains, sheets, laundry detergent, combs and brushes, and clothing, such as pajamas, socks, shirts, undergarments, etc. They also accept cash donations for their residents’ fund. Money in the fund can be used by the residents for needs related to job search activities and to help them transition to independent living circumstances.
The students have conducted several fundraisers already, including a dance, bake sale and feather hair extension sale and have raised several hundred dollars so far. Currently, the students are selling T-shirts, sweatshirts and hooded sweatshirts to benefit the veterans. The articles of clothing range in price from $10 to $24 with all profits going to the veterans’ fund at the center.
These clothing items can be ordered at the CCCTC at (814) 765-5308 through March 31 and must be pre-paid.
SkillsUSA members are also producing a book of stories from local veterans relating the veterans’ war-time experiences. Student member Julia Baney said, “We believe this would be an excellent way to preserve a part of the history of the United States through the voices of the people who served our nation and defended our freedom.”
The books will be produced at the CCCTC and distributed to area libraries, schools and VFW chapters. A copy of the book would also be provided to each contributing veteran. Veterans wishing to submit a story must do so by March 31. Stories can be submitted to the CCCTC during normal business hours and must be typed in Microsoft Word (any version). The students strongly encourage area veterans to turn their stories in as soon as possible to guarantee themselves a space in the book.
SkillsUSA is a national student organization that develops employability, participatory and leadership skills to complement the occupational skills developed by students in technical education classrooms or work-based learning sites.