The place to be to support Veterans Saturday morning (Aug 8th) was Sarges Tap at 409 East Main in Danville. The Midwest Veterans Association “Thunder Ride for Homeless Veterans” took off at 11 AM, in pursuit of their goal to get homeless Veterans off the streets and into permanent housing.
As organizer Susan Gutterridge reminds us, their group works as the connector between organizations that know about Vets in need, and places being offered to the homeless Veterans by landlords. That means communicating with all sides, and making sure an offered home is up to date, such as with no old power bills falling to the incoming Veterans. But it starts by communicating with the third parties.
AUDIO: Crosspoint Human Services, VA Health Care, Mary T. Klinker Foundation, Wreath Services in Indiana, See You at Home in Champaign, Coalition for Veterans Services in Decatur………………….So if there’s a past due power bill, we cant get them in. They call me; I call Ameren or Duke; and we pay the bill, and we get them into housing.
So for the participating Veterans and riders, this is a mission they’re glad to be part of every year. And as always, it’s a mystery route around Eastern Illinois and Western Indiana; which the bikers find out as they ride. CIMG spoke with Midwest Veterans Association vice-president Richard J Davis, Sr and yearly rider Bill Wallpe inside Sarges Tap; along with Kyle and Mark from Danville outside.
(Richard J. Davis:) It’s just a shame that we have to do what we’re doing. But that’s okay. It’s our heart that makes us do this every year. (Bill Wallpe) Just fall in line and follow the leader. He’s got the map. Nobody else does. All of us need help at some time or other. So I’m glad to be a part of it. (Kyle) Well if it wasn’t for them (Veterans) we wouldn’t be here (at an event like this) probably. (Mark) I’ve done it several years. My dad helped start all this, Terry Carpenter. Hopefully we get a good turnout this year; everybody has a fun, safe ride.
For more information, look up Midwest Veterans Association’s Facebook page. And soon, the Veterans First page on VermilionCountyFirst.com’s website and Facebook page.
