Seattle, Wash. (December 16, 2020) Greater Good Charities, a national nonprofit benefitting people, pets, and the planet, joined forces with Organization of Hope and GreaterGood.com to distribute hundreds of Good Packs containing survival supplies that will comfort veterans and their pets in the Washington D.C. area and Prince George and Baltimore counties in Maryland.
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, there are nearly 40,000 homeless veterans in the U.S. at any point in time. “The homeless veteran crisis in the U.S. continues to worsen every year, and the COVID-19 pandemic is making it worse,” said Liz Baker, CEO for Greater Good Charities. “Good Packs and Pet Packs provide a much-needed resource to unsheltered veterans and their pets living in metropolitan communities.”
Funds raised during Greater Good Charities “Home for the Holidays” campaign, in partnership with GreaterGood.com and The Veterans Site, helped make this Good Pack distribution possible. The contents of the Good Pack includes a blanket, standard size T-shirt, socks, reusable water bottle, and basic hygiene products, while the Pet Pack includes dog treats and food/water bowls.
Good Packs and the add-on Pet Packs provide a vital resource, now more than ever. Homeless shelters strain to provide basic but vital services, especially given the recent, heightened need; many homeless shelters are currently operating at full- or overflow-capacity with long waiting lists for new clients. Most times, shelters do not have resources to provide items like those funded by the Good Pack program.
“The holidays can be difficult for homeless veterans, especially those suffering from PTSD,” said Dr. Patrecia Williams, founder and executive director of Organization of Hope and a 26-year Army veteran. “We want to support, provide comfort, and make moments that matter for these heroes and their pets during this challenging time of year.”
Good Packs are not only filled with useful items, they also are useful themselves; backpacks are a much safer and less strenuous way to carry ones belongings. Thieves have a harder time stealing a backpack off of someone compared to a duffel bag. A backpack also distributes its weight evenly on a person’s back, something that is especially important when it is heavy from holding the entirety of a person’s belongings.
