News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Community for Heroes is a Cookeville organization with the mission of bringing homeless veterans off the street.
Founder Josh Pack said 100 percent of donations go towards purchases that provide veterans with a hand up.
“The end goal is to not just give them food for today, but set them up for success for tomorrow and the days to come,” Pack said. “Giving that person money for today, yes it helps them for today, but does it help them for the future? The answer is always no.”
Pack said the organization offers anything from free food to medication payments. Pack said he gives items and services directly to veterans to ensure money is not misused.
“I ask when I am giving food or guying a sleeping bag or getting them out of the winter for a night, it is not just that moment. It is where are they going after this,” Pack said. “Whatever the case may be, it is not just that moment. It’s also what do they need help with? Who can I connect them with to get them further along to better themselves and get off the street.”
Pack said from his experience, giving straight to panhandlers leads to misused cash and enabling unhealthy habitats. Pack said often times, people will take half of the money for food and use the remaining cash for drugs and alcohol.
“Unfortunately, a lot of these people have to want help to receive help,” Pack said. “But, they won’t take the steps to get there. So for me, if I am helping out a veteran, it’s food first, then medication and after that it is jobs and housing. So, success to me is actually seeing them remove themselves from the street and be someone stable. I can help them with that.”
If someone wants to donate money to the cause or an individual veteran, Community for Heroes can be found on Facebook.
