San Francisco homeless veterans and the holiday season
In the middle of December San Francisco’s homeless veterans are not forgotten, thanks to the generous efforts of two brothers Jimmy Lyons and Richie Scardino and their friends and family in collaboration with Swords to Plowshares, a non profit veterans organization here in San Francisco.
The two brothers, who are from Los Angeles and Sacramento areas collect, finance and organize the holiday gift bag giveaway beginning in September. Swords to Plowshares obtains the facility and organizes the holiday dinner and staff along with a few members from the downtown V.A. Medical clinic to volunteer as food servers, karaoke singers, greeters, coat checkers for an estimated 220 homeless veterans.
This years event will be combined with the holiday gift bag giveaway, which consists of various clothing and accessories a person who lives on the streets or in a shelter can benefit from, especially this time of year when it’s very cold out, said Richie Scardino.
The Health and Social Services Unit Director at Swords to Plowshares indicated that both events are being combined as opposed to having the events in the past on different days of the month.We can make this a “real special holiday event” because our veterans regardless of their circumstances will always have us as family, especially at a time of the year when family and tradition is very important.
The date is December 16th and the location is at the Arc of Refuge on Howard Street for further information on how you can help (415) 252-4788 or if you are a veteran and homeless in San Francisco, come to Swords to Plowshares at 1060 Howard St in San Francisco, Ca.
For more info: www.swords to plowshares.org