May 18

Food Support for Homeless Veterans

Hundreds of Veterans Living in Tents at Westwood VA Facility

by Uncle Paulie

As our last video showed, hundreds of veterans are living in tents, both on and off the VA Facility in Westwood   A group of Old Veterans Guard has been collecting donations and putting up nice tents for those in need.  Our trip this week, with a carload of food, was interesting as there are even more tents on the inside and outside of the property than we saw on our trip last week.  Those on the outside are not allowed in to use the washing or bathroom facilities.  Conditions almost rival that of some battlefield situations where you at least would get food, water and rotation out.  The veterans have organized their camp on the outside, and keeping it as clean as possible, removing trash, etc.  They are doing the best they can.

We picked up a load of bagged sandwiches from the West Hollywood Food Coalition and the Salvation Army.  These are complete lunches made by high school students and concerned parents.  The official food banks are running low on food according to our information.  A group we volunteer with, Earth Harmony Foundation, has seen it’s food donations fall by about 80% from the markets that donate “expired food”.  The government food chain is tottering, and hopefully will not collapse, as thousands of folks depend on it.  Here’s our video below, we hope to put up an interview with the Veterans in the next few days.  Video by Julie Webster.

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