Three live encampment locations will be setup around Lebanon this weekend to raise awareness and financial support for homeless veterans and former service members in distress.
The ninth annual Homeless Veterans Awareness Campaign will run from Friday, Nov. 12, at 6:00 a.m. until Saturday, Nov. 13, at 2:00 p.m.
Participants including veterans, family members, friends, and other supporters will become temporarily homeless for 32 hours and rely on the kindness of strangers for meals, donations, and support. Participants will have only the clothing on their back, a rucksack, sleeping bag, bottle of water, and small ration of food.
Encampments will be setup as follows:
- Fisher’s Veterans Park will host two donation points located on the west side of 9th Street (Rt. 72N) and east side of 10th Street (Rt. 72S) closest to the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail crossing.
- The downtown donation point will be located on the south side of Cumberland Street (Rt. 422N) in front of the Lebanon Farmers Market sign.
- Lowes of Lebanon will host an encampment at the store’s entrance on Saturday only from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Each encampment will also provide information to assist veterans in finding support services from the VFW and VA. Social workers from the Lebanon VA Medical Center will be present to provide assistance and information for veterans and their families at the 9th and Cumberland Street location.
Donations will support the VFW District 18 Homeless Veterans Program servicing veterans in Lebanon, Dauphin, and Cumberland Counties and other local charities.
Monetary donations can also be sent to VFW Post 23 at 718 Chestnut Street, Lebanon, PA 17042. Checks should be made out to VFW Post 23, noting HVAC in the memo section.
Donations can be made electronically as well, using Paypal, Venmo, or Cash App.
