Homeless veteran says “It makes me very happy somebody cares about me”

Homeless veteran says “It makes me very happy somebody cares about me”
December 27, 2010 posted by Chaplain Kathie
“Somebody cares about me” seems like such a small thing but it is what all humans need to know. Someone cares enough about them being hungry enough to feed them. Someone cares enough about them to give them a place to sleep out of the cold. Someone cares enough about them that they help instead of judging.

Homeless veterans get a break Group offers ex-servicemen stay at motel
BY R. NORMAN MOODY • FLORIDA TODAY • DECEMBER 26, 2010
TITUSVILLE — Jimmy Suggs lowered his head and wiped away tears as he spoke about spending Christmas away from his homeless camp in the woods on Merritt Island.
“It makes me very happy somebody cares about me,” he said.
The National Veterans Homeless Support with help from the community, businesses and local churches treated Suggs and 46 other homeless veterans to two nights in motel rooms, and gave them gifts of clothes, a tent, sleeping bags and other necessities for their return to wooded camps across Brevard County.

Two days ago people celebrated the day Christ was born after weeks of shopping for gifts and decorating their homes. Hours spent cooking a feast to feed family and friends. All of this for the birth of Christ when the Bible does not say when He was born while the rest of the year few care about what He said.
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Homeless veteran

Florida has 18,000 homeless veterans

"Where they live many times is in the woods or on the street. In the state of Florida, there are 18,000 homeless veterans, 4,500 in Central Florida and about 1,000 Brevard County alone." George Taylor

Homeless veterans get some much needed help
By Margaret Kavanagh, Reporter
Last Updated: Saturday, September 18, 2010 10:25 PM
TITUSVILLE
They put their lives on the line, served our country and now don't have a place to live.

The problem of homeless veterans plagues our state. News 13 attended an event run by the National Veterans Homeless Support Group in Titusville called Stand Down. The group is working to teach other veteran groups around the state how to organize similar events.

Veteran Philip Campbell received a brand new motorized bike. It will help him get to classes at Brevard County Community. The veteran is homeless and living in a tent in the woods.

"Such a shock, the honor that they gave me, the bike, it's a, I'm amazed, I'm amazed," Campbell said.

He was one of 350 veterans that attended the Stand Down event run by the group National Veterans Homeless Support. They received clothes, food, toiletries, medical and legal advice.

The founder of the organization, George Taylor, once lived in the woods himself. He understands what it's like to be a homeless veteran, but said now-a-days it's tougher for the soldiers coming home.
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Homeless veterans get some much needed help

Bikers Ride Through Brevard County With Toys, Donations

Bikers Ride Through Brevard County With Toys, Donations
Monday, May 18, 2009 2:46:51 PM

Thousands of bikers, many of them dressed as Santa, hit the streets of Brevard County Sunday to once again show their Christmas spirit in the 26th Annual ABATE Motorcycle Toy Run.

Approximately 5,000 motorcycles started off on Merritt Island and drove through the county.

Each bike had at least one toy on their bikes, but most had more.

All of the toys went to needy kids.

People involved said in addition to helping out children, the toy run helps change perceptions about bikers.

"They love it. Everybody asks if I'm really hot in it. They want to know what I've got on underneath. It's just fun. Kids love it. People love it. It's worth the smiles," said biker Rick Skauge.

This was the event's 26th year.

Last year, about 6,000 motorcycles took part in the event, donating $4,000 and several truckloads of toys.

It's the largest ride of its kind in Florida.
Bikers Ride Through Brevard County With Toys

Fay finally going away!

Tropical Storm Fay moving away from Central Florida
Aug 22, 2008 10:09 -0400


Updated: 6 minutes ago
At 8 a.m., the center of the tropical storm approached Gainsville, forecasters said. Fay should continue to head west for the next couple of days. Latest Updates from the Hurricane Blog
Wekiva Falls residents evacuated
No part of Seminole spared by Fay's rath
Brevard County Health Department closed Friday
More than 5,000 homes without power in Brevard
Rollins open; University of Florida, Brevard Community College closed

Tornado from TS Fay damages 51 homes in Brevard County FL

Tornado from Tropical Storm Fay damages 51 homes in Brevard
Aug 19, 2008 16:34 -0400



Updated: 8 minutes ago
A tornado has touched down in Barefoot Bay and damaged 51 structures, injuring 2, tossing aluminum and other debris into the roadway.
• LATEST UPDATES: Schools closed Other closings Shelter info Hotels Sandbags Tolls/traffic • COUNTY-BY-COUNTY: Brevard Lake Orange Osceola Polk Seminole Volusia
Tornado in Wellington leaves property damage, no injuries
Aug 19, 2008 13:14 -0400
generateDate('Aug 19, 2008 13:14 -0400', '1:14 PM');

Tropical Storm Fay video Video
Tropical Storm Fay photos Photos


A 4-foot alligator out for a stroll in Barefoot Bay was captured this afternoon by Brevard County Animal Services.

The alligator was walking down the street near damaged homes where a tornado touched down earlier.

Several thousand homes are without power as Fay makes her way across the state. Florida Power and Light reports 4659 homes affected in south Brevard County.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is asking that people stay out of the Barefoot Bay area unless they live there or are involved in the relief effort. Anyone in the area with out proper identification could be arrested.
In South Brevard, where the tornado touched down earlier, the sheriff's office today reported 51 homes damaged by a possible tornado in the Barefoot Bay neighborhood, which was heavily damaged during Hurricane Jeanne in 2004.

The county remains under a tornado watch until 1 a.m.

Nine homes were uninhabitable, authorities said.