Latest news with #VeteransCommunityProject
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
With gratitude for community, Longmont veteran village marks grand opening
Longmont's tiny home village for military veterans is complete, ushering in a new era of community support for all who served. U.S. Army veteran Patrick Putnam moved to the village almost two years ago. As a part of the mission of Veterans Community Project, the nonprofit group that operates the village, Putnam lives there for free as he works toward permanent housing and employment. In the years since moving in, Putnam has made the community his home. He tends to a blueberry bush on his front porch. He helped build some of the houses. Now that construction is finished, Putnam will keep pitching in by mowing the village's new grassy lawn. 'I love mowing grass,' he said. 'It's not even a chore for me.' For Putnam, the VCP Longmont village gave him a 'place to start over' when he needed it. He was able to complete technical certifications that will help him with his goal to enter the information technology industry. After three months, he said, he stopped locking his door because of how safe the community felt. Putnam plans to leave the village within the next four months, but he won't forget the bonds he built with fellow veterans who are dealing with similar experiences. 'It's not just stable, it's also comfortable,' Putnam said of VCP Longmont. 'It gives you plenty of breathing room to work on yourself. I had to focus on my mental health in particular when I first got here, and I had the room to do that.' On Thursday, VCP Longmont celebrated its grand opening with a housewarming event at the village. Jennifer Seybold, executive director of VCP Longmont, recalled the 'stops and starts' in the process that began in 2019 to make the village a reality. 'Tonight feels like the moment after the move-in when the lights are on, and the boxes are unpacked, and you're finally ready to invite your neighbors over,' Seybold told dozens of visitors on Thursday. With villages across the country, Veterans Community Project provides housing and case management for veterans struggling with homelessness. The Longmont village at 3095 Mountain Brook Drive has 26 tiny homes, a community center and outdoor recreation areas. There are currently 15 residents living there, regardless of their discharge status or type of service. At Thursday's housewarming party, guests were invited to tour the village, look inside unoccupied tiny homes and meet VCP team members. Several guests wrote messages in marker on a sign for the village's community center. One read: 'We are proud to support our vets.' Surrounded by homes decorated with American flags, people who played a role in the village's development reflected on the long journey. Philanthropist Carrie Morgridge helped close out VCP Longmont's funding needs near the end of construction with a matching campaign. Morgridge said her father served in the U.S. Navy, which inspired her to seek out projects for veterans that the foundation could support. 'Knowing that the city of Longmont wanted this project is so important,' Morgridge said. The Longmont City Council has backed the village for years, including waiving roughly $189,582 in development fees for VCP Longmont in 2022. Vic Young gave more than 1,000 hours of volunteer labor to the village. He remembered how the site looked three years ago, with the field full of weeds and the community center still under construction. Young thanked volunteers for pouring their time and energy into the project. He promised them that Thursday's ceremony didn't mark the end of their work, but the beginning, as the village can finally fulfill its purpose of serving veterans. 'When we look at what we've accomplished here, we surely can take pride in our work,' Young said. 'Because you gave, we look at this wonderful village that stands behind us here today.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Biking 4,000 miles to help homeless veterans
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Gage Matzen is on a 4,228-mile mission across America. 'I've always loved big adventures that are physically tough,' Matzen said. The Tea, South Dakota native is biking the TransAmerica Trail, which begins in Yorktown, Virginia. He set off in early May, and he hopes to reach his final destination in Astoria, Oregon in early August. Air quality alert issued for South Dakota due to wildfire smoke 'I'm making good progress, I think. The days should pick up with mileage as well as the trip has been going on. A couple days ago, we did 80 and then another 70 miles after that,' Matzen said. The reason he's biking across the country is to raise money to help those who have served. Last summer, Matzen volunteered for a day at the Veterans Community Project of Sioux Falls. 'At my last job in Sioux Falls, we did a volunteer opportunity at VCP and had the opportunity to go out, build some frames, some walls, and the houses and hear some testimonials,' Matzen said. 'It just kind of struck home for me.' From support services to a home of their own, the nonprofit provides veterans with resources to help them get back on their feet. To Matzen, this was eye-opening. 'Just hearing those stories really solidifies how awesome that organization is and why I want to help raise money for it,' Matzen said. So, as any other 'aspiring TransAmerica Trail rider' would do, he told the staff in Sioux Falls his plan and began preparing for his ride across the country. 'He had expressed sort of a bucket list thing to bike across the country. What he told Kaelyn, who he's been working with, is he wanted to do this for somebody else. He wouldn't quit,' Veterans Community Project of Sioux Falls executive director John Holter said. 'He was motivated by helping someone else.' With no government funding, the Veterans Community Project relies on donations and volunteers. Right now, the organization is adding another row of homes to the Sioux Falls village to help more veterans get a fresh start. 'Paying the light bill, helping finish out building the village- all that money goes to helping house homeless veterans,' Holter said. Helping others is a big part of Matzen's goal, but it's also about pushing himself. Sioux Falls street closures start Monday 'A couple of years ago, I was involved in a drunk driving accident. We were hit head-on on a highway, and thankfully, myself and my passengers were okay, but my ankle was put into a pilon fracture and shattered,' Matzen said. 'I spent a good year and a half or two years in and out of surgeries and recovery.' Now, back on his feet, Matzen is biking not only to challenge himself, but to inspire others. The trek across America is no small feat, and it requires plenty of rest days, resilience and even the kindness of strangers. 'I've been approached by so many people. 'Are you biking across? Are you doing the TransAmerica Trail?' And they try to buy you dinner,' Matzen said. 'I had a lady come up to me at the gas station as I was riding my bike while I was eating a snack. She said, 'Do you have a place to stay tonight?' She's like 'I'm always looking for cyclists and we love hosting. You guys are so much fun.'' It wasn't long before Matzen realized he wasn't alone on this mission. What started as a solo ride to help veterans has grown into a shared journey with cyclists from around the world. 'Along the way, I've met at least ten other cyclists doing this, and now I'm actually rolling with three guys: one from California, a guy from London, U.K., and a guy from West Virginia. So, we've been rolling together, and then we actually met two other gals from the Netherlands,' Matzen said. 'We rode with them for a few days, and the whole last week has flown by because we've been hanging out and riding together.' Each biker has their own story, their own goals, and their own reason to keep moving forward. For Matzen, it means pedaling across the same country that so many have fought to protect. You can follow along with Matzen's journey, and you can also donate to help him reach his fundraising goal and support veterans in Sioux Falls. The new Miss South Dakota has been crowned Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wooden American flags donated to veterans
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Some Jefferson High School students in Sioux Falls are showing off their patriotic pride by donating special gifts today to the Sioux Falls Veterans Community Project. One by one, students donated wooden American flags that they built in class to a veteran living here at the Veterans Community Project, a village of tiny homes where a veteran can live with dignity and security. 'I absolutely love kids and I saw the school bus show up and I have seen all these American flags and I was like, wow, I was like these kids are spot on,' former Marine Eric Paxton said. Emily's Hope, EMT react to proposed naloxone cuts The flags were a partnership between the school and Paradigm Construction and Lumber, who donated all the wood. 'These flags took about four weeks to do, we started off with just some old lumber from construction sites,' Cooper Dykstra said. Their teacher says this is a lesson that can't be taught in the classroom. 'One of the compasses of success we have at Jefferson is to serve and I wanted our students to be able to serve the community and by doing that we are serving the veterans here at the community project,' Wood Tech teacher Steve Hirsch said. This is the fourth project for the Wood Tech class; they have one more left, but they say this one is probably the most meaningful. 'It's always good to give back to people who sacrifice their time,' Dykstra said. 'We're just giving it to them as a token of our gratitude.' 'It's completely amazing to feel like they actually care, you know they want to do something for their community or to give back to a few of us vets, it hits pretty hard,' Paxton said. So now, the veterans have a home… 'Like that would be perfect,' Paxton said. And so do their wooden flags. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sanford appoints Andy Munce as Sioux Falls CEO
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sanford Health has chosen its new chief executive officer (CEO) of the Sioux Falls region. Andy Munce will serve as president and CEO after previously acting as the chief operating officer and interim president and CEO of the Sioux Falls region, a news release from Sanford said. Nearly 200 citations issued in speed racing patrol Munce started his Sanford career in 2004 as an nurse in the surgical cardiovascular unit. 'Our team will continue to look for opportunities to increase access to care and expand services that improve the quality of life for those in our communities such as constructing homes for homeless veterans through the Veterans Community Project or addressing food insecurity with the Kid's Kitchen at Sanford Children's,' Munch said in the news release. Munce is a graduate of South Dakota State University where he earned his bachelor of science degree in nursing and his master's degree in nursing administration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
07-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Flying for a Cause: High School Student's Drone Project Supports Nonprofits
High school student provides nonprofits with professional drone photography and videography, making aerial media accessible for organizations doing good. 'I've always loved photography, but it often captures familiar views. Drones show the world from new angles. After years of flying, I wanted to use my skills to help organizations in need.' — Braeden Macchia LONGMONT, CO, UNITED STATES, April 7, 2025 / / -- In a blend of youth innovation and community service, high school student and Part 107 licensed drone pilot Braeden Macchia has launched Drones for Dreams, a project dedicated to providing free drone photography and videography services to nonprofits or other organizations doing good. This initiative aims to elevate the storytelling capabilities of charitable organizations, offering them unique aerial perspectives to enhance their outreach and share their cause. The organization's services include drone videography, photography, and professional video editing, all tailored to showcase the unique narratives of each nonprofit partner. Since its inception, Drones for Dreams has collaborated with several notable organizations, including the Veterans Community Project, Zionsville Farmers Market, Sea Inspiration, and Niwot Youth Sports. These partnerships have resulted in compelling visual content that highlights the missions of these nonprofits and fosters greater community engagement. Braeden's dedication to his craft and community has not gone unnoticed. As a licensed drone pilot, his work is praised for its professionalism, creativity, and the unique perspectives it brings to nonprofit storytelling. He has presented his work before both the Colorado State Board of Education and the St. Vrain Valley School Board, where he shared the vision and impact of Drones for Dreams. In recognition of his efforts, Braeden received the Superintendent's Excellence in Education Award, celebrating his innovation, leadership, and commitment to service. As Drones for Dreams continues to grow, Braeden remains committed to empowering change and is 'Flying High for Nonprofits – No Strings Attached.' Melissa Gruber, Director of Development for the Veterans Community Project, shared her experience: 'I am so grateful for Braeden's passion and investment in Veterans Community Project of Longmont's mission! We've been so lucky to have Braeden capture different stages of our Tiny Home Village. We highly recommend him for your photography needs! His dedication to showcasing our initiatives has truly made a difference.' About Drones for Dreams Drones for Dreams is a project founded by high school student and licensed drone pilot Braeden Macchia, offering nonprofits free drone photography and videography services. By capturing stunning aerial footage, the organization aims to elevate the storytelling capabilities of charitable organizations, helping them reach wider audiences and achieve their missions. +1 720-713-9333 Legal Disclaimer:
