PUNTA GORDA — The Sons of Amvets Post 777 wanted to make sure a group of local veterans began 2025 with a boost.
Three members of the Englewood-based group, Don Grein, Tim Orchard and David Dawson, gathered up a truckload of gifts and supplies, and headed to the Veterans Village of America.
They also increased their recent Veterans Village donation to $450.
“For several years, we adopted the veterans at this complex,” Dawson said. “We bought 78 T-shirts, 48 pairs of boxers, 48 socks, 28 toothbrushes, 24 tubes of toothpaste and 24 deodorants — and a partridge in a pear tree.”
Giving, helping, supporting the Veterans Village trended upwards in 2024, as more people and groups become aware of the nonprofit-run transitional housing complex and its mission.
The Veterans Village provides low- and moderate-income level housing for people experiencing homelessness, families with children, older adults, veterans and their families, and people with disabilities, including physical and mental disabilities. It’s at 1250 Taylor St., Punta Gorda.