From the Hangar: Our Wingmen Making a Difference
It has been a fast start to the new year and our Wingmen have been busy. Helping with our most important program, they have continued to play a key role in the battle against food insecurity amongst our veteran population. Our Wingmen are Veterans that represent their community and are force multipliers helping us extend our area of service.
Their dedication to picking up and delivering hundreds of food boxes a week across Massachusetts plays a pivotal role in the number of people we can reach and help. It is not just about the food, the relationship our wingmen are building with their community has had a huge impact for those they assist not only with food security, but also finding out that some of the veterans need more than just-food.
Without our Wingman on the ground to assist with our outreach mission, the Veterans we serve may not have learned about some of the basic services and resources that are available to them. Not only have our Wingmen helped with educating some of our veterans on resources available to them, but they stepped up to help provide services themselves. For example, with the increasing amount of snow, some of our older veterans have struggled with snow removal/clean-up. Our wingmen have taken it upon themselves to lend a helping hand to make life a little easier for some of the people they serve. As we look forward to the spring, we have more programs on the horizon that will help engage our community.
Here’s a testimonial from one of our clients:
“I have been receiving the food boxes for months. I am a disabled veteran 80 years old and my wife is a senior citizen. We met one of your volunteers at the Devens Community Center. Clear Path’s Wingman has become a great support system for us helping us with food and emotional support. It is the little things. Spending time talking and delivering our food to us has provided a boost in our morale. My wife is looking forward to volunteering with Clear Path because of our relationship with our Wingman. I can’t imagine living here on Devens as a Veteran without the programs that Clear Path offers. We look forward to supporting the other Veterans in the same way that Clear Path has shown us. We want to help expand this program. Thank you so much Clear Path. Every veteran needs and deserves a Wingmen in their corner. I am so happy to have mine.”
If you are interested in becoming a Wingmen, please contact bbregel@clearpathne.org