Female Soldiers, Forgotten Heroes
For more information on the Raffle of a Hand-Knit Afghan, click here.
Through correspondence with troops who are involved with the soccer ball distribution, the Kick for Nick Foundation has become acutely aware of a new and historically unique situation; the large number of women soldiers who, in the near future, will be returning home as veterans of combat zones and for whom housing is severely inadequate.
Housing specifically for female veterans is largely insufficient for the growing need. Connecticut currently has 106 transitional supportive beds but less than 10 of them are for women. Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs shows that 6,000 - 8,000 women veterans are homeless in our country. For further information, download the Female Veterans Fact Sheet.
To assist in establishing transitional supportive housing specifically for homeless women veterans, the Kick for Nick Foundation members will be working with Homes for the Brave, an organization which already operates veteran housing in Connecticut, to identify buildings which are available and can be renovated into suitable residences. An initial fund-raising event was held May 2, 2009. The theme of the event was a Magical Evening at the Carnival and took place in Wilton, CT. For further information about this event, to volunteer for future events or to make a donation, please Click Here.
For more information, please read our Sponsor Letter.
"SSG Tiffany Ranallo (left) Pensylvania Army National Guard, Military Police and fellow MP SPC Rittenbaugh (right) distributing soccer balls to Iraqi children while they wait with their mothers to visit their fathers who are being detained by the military. May 2008"
How to Help: When the project is ready to launch, there will be numerous opportunities for volunteers to help in renovating the building and preparing it for occupancy. Anyone interested in lending their assistance or becoming involved in other ways can contact Shalini Madaras via email shalinimad@aol.com or phone 203-451-6622. For more information please visit www.homesforthebrave.org.
If you would like to make a donation to the Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes Project, click on the button below. Donated funds will be gathered by the Kick for Nick Foundation and dispersed directly to the FS:FH transitional housing project.
Fairfield Magazine recently included an article about the Female Soldiers, Forgotten Heroes transitional housing project in its December 2008 issue. Read the full article by downloading the pdf located in the link above.
Download the Save the Date card for the upcoming gala in support of Female Soldiers:Forgotten Heroes. The gala will be held on May 2, 2009 in Wilton CT.
The Wilton Bulletin (part of the Hersam Acorn Newspaper Group) recently included a feature about the FS:FH project and the upcoming Gala "A Magical Evening at the Carnival".
Click the logo below for more information on the Gala "A Magical Evening at the Carnival"...
