Lancaster County has a large population of veterans and active members of the armed forces, many of whom struggle with issues related to their time in service. Readjusting to civilian life can be a difficult process for military personnel who have seen combat, and conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder can interfere with their daily lives and stability. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more than 35,000 American veterans experienced homelessness in January 2023, and roughly 15,000 were unsheltered.

Many individuals and local organizations in Lancaster County have banded together to meet the needs of veterans in the community. Nonprofits such as Woerth It Hollow in Kirkwood and Building Bridges Foundation in Conestoga offer equine therapy services for veterans. Other groups, including Tenfold in downtown Lancaster, specifically work toward addressing homelessness among the veteran population. Nancy Rankin, owner of the Conestoga Wagon Restaurant, recently partnered with Tenfold to create a donation drive to collect items needed the most by unhoused veterans.

Until Feb. 17, Rankin received donations of items such as blankets, winter clothing, deodorant, toothpaste and shoes at the Conestoga Wagon Restaurant, and community members also dropped off donations at the Building Bridges Foundation during its weekly veterans cafe. Veterans from the foundation and multiple volunteers assisted with packing the items and delivering them to the Veterans' Victory House, a temporary housing shelter operated by Tenfold. In addition to providing temporary housing, the shelter offers various support services for unhoused veterans and their families.

Rankin was inspired to create the drive after an encounter she had in downtown Lancaster in July. Unable to find her car in a parking garage, Rankin asked several pedestrians if she could borrow a phone to call her son, who was waiting to be picked up in another part of the city. No one assisted Rankin until a homeless veteran approached her; although he didn't have a phone, he walked with Rankin until she was able to locate her vehicle. "I was humbled by his story. He told me he fought for our country and freedom and that the Good Lord provided for him - even if his head is on the street at night," Rankin said. "I will never forget about him, and I wanted to do something to make a difference."

Rankin enlisted the help Conestoga resident Jill Kelley to coordinate the drive. Kelley served in the Air National Guard for 26 years, and she is actively involved with multiple local veterans' groups. Rankin and Kelley met at the Conestoga Wagon Restaurant, and Kelley said she was happy to assist with the drive. "Conestoga and its surrounding areas are very supportive of community activities, and (Rankin's) idea was to use that to benefit veterans," Kelley said. "We thought of ways we could truly walk the walk and give back to people who have served."

To learn more about the Veterans' Victory House and other Tenfold programs, visit https://wearetenfold.org.