We sponsor various events and fundraisers throughout the year to support the recovery and rehabilitation programs for our veterans.
2nd Annual
Sleep-out for homelessness
march 17&18, 2023
Event cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
See you next year! Mark your calendars for April 12 & 13
Every night in this country, 40,000 United States Veterans have no place to call home. The Veterans’ Place, Inc., in collaboration with Norwich University’s Center for Civic Engagement, is hosting its 2nd Annual “Sleep-Out for Homelessness” encampment to join in solidarity with unhoused veterans, and raise awareness of Veteran homelessness. Any proceeds will benefit The Veterans’ Place, Inc., a nonprofit transitional housing program founded in 2009. As an added service component, socks, hats, and gloves are being collected for delivery to homeless shelters. (Call 802-485-8874 to donate items.)
The encampment takes place from 4pm Friday, March 17, to 12 noon on Saturday, March 18, and is being offered to community members (18+) and Norwich students, faculty, and staff. All participants must register online, pay a $20 registration fee, and sign a waiver prior to participating. New this year is a "virtual" option, whereby individuals and families may camp out in their yards. Virtual participants can showcase their support by posting a photo on social media of their campsite, with a special yard sign, available for purchase at the time of registration.
Friday night’s program features a talk at 6:00pm by *Paul Capcara, who has worked extensively with the homeless population in Vermont. Saturday morning’s keynote will be delivered by decorated army combat veteran **Morgana Isenberg, a Veteran Outreach Program Specialist from the Vet Center in White River Junction. Isenberg will share her own experiences in Iraq and Kuwait, and talk about the services she and the Vet Center provide.
Participants are required to bring their own tents, sleeping bags, tarps, and other gear for sleeping out. Only registrants, volunteers, and credentialed media will be allowed on the premises. A simple supper of soup and bread will be provided, as well as a light breakfast Saturday morning.
Please join us next year for this very meaningful event
for a very worthy cause.
**Morgan Isenberg joined the military in Jan 2008 and was honorably discharged in 2016 from the NHARNG as an E4 Spc from Bravo Company 3643rd BSB out of Manchester, N.H. She served in Kuwait and Iraq as Convoy Security during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn as Lead Gun truck 50 Cal Gunner and Driver.
Morgana's awards include, the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, and Master’s Drivers Badge.
According to Morgana, "Homeless and Veterans are two words that should never go together. Over 40,000 Veterans experience homelessness in the U.S. every night. At one point during my own service I was one of those 40,000. No one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, a roof over their heads, or the care that they need when they come home. If America is “Home of the Brave,” why are so many of the brave homeless? Which is why I give my all to helping my brothers and sisters in arms get what they deserve."
*A graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Johns Hopkins University Schools of Nursing and Public Health, Paul Capcara has devoted his life to improving the lives of disadvantaged populations. Throughout his career, he has worked and volunteered at many community-based, non-profit organizations, including: as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Solomon Islands; at Healthcare for the Homeless in Baltimore; in Laos, Southeast Asia training village health workers and traditional birth attendants; in Macedonia and Kosovo delivering primary health care in refugee camps during the Balkan wars; in Brattleboro, Vermont directing the family homeless shelter; and in Putney, White River Junction, and Barre, Vermont volunteering as a nurse at community free clinics. He has served on the board of directors of the Veterans' Place since 2019.
Events of 2022
E-Bike Raffle Winners Announced!
Ashton Morvan, 23, of Northfield (pictured at right), was the lucky winner of a Jasion electric bicycle, the grand prize in our fall 2022 fundraiser. Second prize of $200 was won by Robert Nelson of Randolph, and third prize of $100 was won by Jamie Bariteau. The raffle, which kicked off on Labor Day Weekend and culminated with the drawing on November 11, Veterans Day, netted almost $5000 for the Veterans' Place. Many thanks to everyone who purchased tickets. You are our heroes! And to those of you who did not win, you are supporting a very worthy cause, and there is always next year!
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the 8th Annual Granite City 5K on November 5, 2022. The event netted more than 13,000 in proceeds in support of our services and programs. Whether you sponsored us, ran, walked, bid on the online auction, or donated an auction item, you contributed to the success of this annual fundraiser.
Norwich University Air Force ROTC Cadets Headline Granite City 5K
Nearly 80 runners and walkers ranging in age from 6 to 86 waited at the starting line for the 10:00am start of the 8th Annual Granite City 5K Run/Walk for Veterans on November 5. A little over an hour later, the last walkers to cross the finish line of the 3.12-mile course—a colorfully clad mother and daughter team—received a hearty round of applause.
Taking first place honors with a time of 18 minutes, 12.8 seconds was 20-year-old Nate Palter, a Norwich University junior who registered for the competition with 24 fellow airmen and women from Air Force ROTC Detachment 867. One of them, freshman rook Joseph Rauch, finished 37 seconds later, good enough for second overall and first in the 19-and-under age group. Palter, who runs cross-country for Norwich, was gracious in victory. “I was thrilled to finish first and alongside several of my Norwich Air Force cadets,” said the Computer Security and Information Assurance major. “We all look forward to serving our great Nation soon, and we want to support Veterans organizations such as this because we have a special bond of affection for the men and women that have served before us.”
Capturing first place in the 19-and-under female category was Grace Richardson, another AFROTC cadet. “As a newly enlisted member in the Vermont Air National Guard, I was excited to go out and represent Vermont and Norwich University at this event,” said the freshman rook from Phoenix, Arizona. In accepting her award, Richardson acknowledged classmate Delilah Avery, who crossed the finish line less than a tenth of a second behind her. “I had a great time honoring the legacy of those that served before us, and the finish with my fellow Air Force cadet was very close,” she added. Richardson also gave a warm shout out to American Legion Post #1819 for generously sponsoring the AFROTC cadets.
Other notable performances include top female finisher Jessica Cotnoir, a nurse practitioner from Williamstown, who crossed the finish line at 27:10. Taking the honors for the oldest participant was 86-year-old Joan Hart of Barre, while the oldest male to lace up was Dick Ferno, 79, of Williamstown. Finally, 64-year-old Darrel Lasell of Williamstown took first in the men’s over-50 category (and a respectable 20th overall) in 27:19.7, despite having completed a Fallen Leaves 5K only half an hour earlier in Montpelier!
The GC5K—the largest single fundraiser of the year for The Veterans’ Place—is a collaboration between The Barre Partnership, SAL Squadron #10, and Barre Elks Lodge 1535, with support from the Veterans’ Place Board of Directors. Special thanks are owed to the following Northfield Community sponsors who helped The Veterans’ Place reach its fundraising goals: Sorrel-Maynard Post #63, AL Post #1819, Depot Square Pizzeria, North Main Service, Northfield Granite & Marble, Northfield Pharmacy, Gillespie Fuels & Propane, Northfield Savings Bank, Trombly's Greenhouse, Kenyon's Hardware, Trans-Video, Law Office of William Smith, Falls General Store, and Mayo Healthcare.
INAUGURAL
Sleep-out for homelessness
march 18&19, 2022
Thank you to everyone for making
our inaugural sleep-out a success!
The Veterans’ Place, Inc., with the help of Norwich University’s Center for Civic Engagement, hosted its inaugural “Sleep-Out for Homelessness” encampment March 18 & 19th on the Crescent across from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. The event was intended to raise awareness of Veteran homelessness, and all proceeds raised by donations directly benefit The Veterans’ Place. As an added service component, items such as socks, hats, gloves and scarves were collected prior to the event and put in angel bags to be delivered to the Good Samaritan Haven in Barre, which provides shelter and services to persons experiencing homelessness.
Almost 30 people volunteered to sleep out in tents, among them, Norwich students (cadets and civilians), community members, six members of Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association 26-1, two Veterans' Place residents, and one former resident.
Friday night's program included a talk by Montpelier Police Officer Victor Hinojosa and a campfire at the Shaw Outdoor Center with beef stew and veggie chili prepared by our own Chef Pete. Local guitarist Mike Macijeski provided some ambient music during the meal, which was followed by a sharing of personal experiences of homelessness by Veterans.
Saturday morning's program featured decorated army combat veteran Morgana Isenberg, a Veteran Outreach Program Specialist from the Vet Center in White River Junction. Isenberg shared a few of her own experiences, including a period of homelessness, and talked about the services she provides. In addition, Isenberg's mobile Vet Center was parked at the Crescent and available for people to check out.
The Veterans' Place wishes to acknowledge the contributions of NU's Center for Civic Engagement, Tops Markets, AL Post #1819, Darn Tough Socks, The NU Knit and Crochet Club, and Bob Weggler and the Norwich University Men's Rugby Team, without whom this event would not have been possible.