Veterans who once served with honor and distinction but now face homelessness will be at the heart of a community effort on Saturday, when volunteers gather at Freeport High School to assemble hundreds of “Dignity Duffel” bags filled with essential items.
The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the high school, at 50 S. Brookside Ave., is open to the public.
The project, led by the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club in partnership with the nonprofit General Needs, is part of Rotary’s nationwide EPIC Day of Service, an initiative that seeks to show the power of collective action with Rotary Clubs across the nation carrying out different service projects in unison.
“So many of the people receiving this are homeless and maybe not by choice,” Harrison said.
“These men served our country,” she added. “They played a role in my personal freedom. For whatever reason that they are down, they are not out, and it’s about giving a leg up.”
The endeavor involves volunteers packing the essential items in 240 to 250 duffel bags, which will be distributed to shelters over the coming weeks.
Past recipients of the duffel bags included Long Island Cares in Freeport and shelters in Queens.
Each bag will contain new socks, underwear, undershirts, bath towels, washcloths, and personal care items such as toothbrushes, razors, and 3-in-1 shampoo. Playing cards and nail clippers are also included to offer comfort and a sense of care.
“We’re not changing their life in a day,” Harrison said. “But we can help them today, while they make an effort to figure out the rest of their situation.”
Each participating Rotary Club and partner organization — including Ridgewood Savings Bank and Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Inc. — has pledged to supply at least 240 pieces of each item, for a total of more than 1,000 individual care items.
In addition to the Freeport-Merrick club, other groups involved include the Rotaries of Mineola-Garden City, Floral Park-Bellerose, South Queens, Southwest Queens, and Hempstead-Uniondale.
“I like the fact of giving back to our community,” Harrison said about what draws her to the Rotary and to volunteering. “To whom much is given, much is required. If I can give back of my time or finances, I’d like to do that.”
Rotary’s EPIC Day of Service brings together more than 800 clubs and tens of thousands of members across the country for a single day of action.
General Needs said the event is a chance to provide veterans with necessities while inspiring lasting change.
“The urgency of their needs calls for immediate action,” the organization said in a statement. “To help restore their dignity, General Needs has partnered with local Rotary Clubs to address the needs of veterans while inspiring hope and creating meaningful change.”
To volunteer, visit EpicDayofService.org and search for the Freeport-Merrick project.
To learn more about General Needs Ltd. visit GeneralNeeds.org or email info@generalneeds.org.
“It’s a small part,” Harrison said. “To see how they are so grateful, you can see the thankfulness that somebody cared. Even a little bit goes a long way.”
