Serving Veterans Who Served Us

For veterans, the challenges that come after military service can take many forms.

It might be finding stable housing. Paying an unexpected bill. Accessing food or health care. Finding employment.

And ask any veteran, the overwhelming challenge is often a lack of community resources and support… finding that organization that truly understands the unique needs of those who have served us and connecting them with the people who are the ideal problem solvers.

Across the Lower Eastern Shore, nonprofit organizations are working every day to meet those needs.

Through its grantmaking programs, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) supports nonprofit organizations addressing a wide range of community needs.

For local organizations serving veterans, that means there may be an opportunity to turn an identified need into a funded solution.

CFES maintains veteran-specific funds because the challenges facing veterans can be unique, immediate and sometimes difficult to address through traditional funding sources. These funds are intended to make resources available to organizations that are working directly with veterans and understand the circumstances that can arise after military service.

And those resources are there to be used.

For nonprofits serving veterans, the opportunity is not simply to find funding. It is to recognize that CFES has donors who have specifically chosen to invest in the well-being of those who have served and to connect those charitable dollars with veterans who need them most.

When an organization identifies a need that fits within the purpose of a veteran-specific fund, CFES can help turn that need into meaningful assistance.

For two agencies, Diaknoia and Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County, recent $2,500 grants assisted veterans with transportation expenses/essential medications and critical home repairs/aging in place household modifications. 

Through a grant from the CFES Veterans Appreciation Fund, Habitat was able to help a disabled U.S. Air Force veteran replace a 40-year-old, broken HVAC system. The support, however, provided more than a critical home repair; it helped ensure that a local veteran could continue living safely and with dignity in his own home.

“We are grateful for the support and partnership of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. CFES’ investment and collaboration over the years have helped us grow our Veteran Build Program so we can serve more families, faster, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of local veterans,” said Christina Williams, Habitat’s Director of Development.

The experience of organizations like Diakonia and Habitat illustrates an important point: Sometimes the people closest to a problem are also the ones best positioned to develop the solution.

Diakonia's Support Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, for instance, provides direct assistance to Veterans facing critical transportation and healthcare barriers. Community Foundation grant funds were used to help cover vehicle registration and other vehicle-related fees, as well as medication costs, ensuring veterans could maintain transportation, access medical care, and remain stable in their housing. 

“Many of the veterans we serve are forced to make difficult choices between paying for essential expenses and maintaining their health or transportation,” said Stephanie Hellman, Diakonia’s Veterans Program Coordinator. “The CFES investment helps us address urgent, real-world challenges that are often not covered by traditional funding sources, allowing us to provide flexible, meaningful assistance when and where veterans need it most.”

CFES currently provides local nonprofits with an online grant portal where organizations can explore available opportunities, review eligibility requirements and apply for funding. The Foundation also provides grant-seeker resources and support to help nonprofits navigate the process.

The real results come when veterans benefit from those programs. Veterans like Phil Adkins, who remains thankful for the one that made possible the replacement of that HVAC system by Habitat.

“The air handler and duct system were shot, 41 years old when they went up in August, and I was looking at a winter with no heat. I didn’t have the money to replace it, and I couldn’t get a loan, added Adkins. “It’s vitally important for community agencies to know there is assistance available for veterans from organizations like the Community Foundation. I personally know many vets who are struggling with or concerned about major system failures in their homes and could use some financial help.”

Supporting our heroes, like Phil, who served isn't just about remembering their service, it’s about making sure our community is there for them when they need us. 

There is funding specifically for veteran-related needs at CFES, and nonprofits should know they are available. To learn more or to learn how you can support an existing fund or create one of your own, visit www.CFES.org or call us at 410-742-9911.