GENERAL NEEDS LTD

General Needs is an ALL VOLUNTEER 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and primary mission is to help “veterans in need” and their families. In January 2013 three states – California, Florida, and New York – accounted for 44% of all homeless veterans across the country.* The geographic area of Long Island (Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties) accounts for the largest homeless veterans’ population in New York State.

General Needs grew from a volunteer experience at the Northport VA Salvation Army Annex in Bldg. 11, the Emergency Homeless Veterans Residence. The founder and president, Lonnie Sherman, was volunteering monthly and serving in a “hot meal” soup kitchen style program. After several months, he started asking what else the veterans needed. The quiet answer was “Can you get me some new underwear?” or “I came here with the clothes I’m wearing; can you help me?” And thus, General Needs was born. For years, Lonnie Sherman, asked family, friends and business associates for donations.

In today’s society, it is common to donate used clothing to a local charity. However, there are personal clothing items that are not accepted for sanitary reasons: underwear, socks and tee-shirts. The veterans we serve are in great need of these basic living necessities. Monthly, we provide NEW basic “general needs” of underwear, socks, tee-shirts, sneakers, sweatshirts, sweatpants, towels and toiletries. We call these “Distribution with Dignity”. This is due to the way the new items are displayed and the veterans are being provided a gift rather than a hand-out. The items will be handed to the veteran with a smile and a heartfelt handshake with a “Thank you for your Service”.

Initially, General Needs supported one location and 40-50 veterans per month. However, increasingly the veterans returning from recent engagement vets are joining the “veterans in need” population. Currently, we are providing “Distributions with Dignity” to an estimated 150-200 veterans per month at in five different locations. We rotate the clothing items quarterly to match the veterans 90-day rotation through their assigned housing and treatment. The veterans will participate in various therapies for PTSD, substance abuse, depression, anxiety as well as medical / surgical procedures.

The Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency requires a unique permit and registration of Nonprofit Veterans Organizations. General Needs Ltd. was approved and granted the permit to accept donations and provide our services to Veterans in Need.

Along with our monthy "Distributions", we have two larger projects. Veteran's Day and Christmas! For Veteran's Day, General Needs orchestrated a special one-day multi-site of new winter waterproof boots to 25+ emergency and transitional veteran housing shelters from Long Island City in Queens to Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York. The General Needs volunteers returned emotional and empowered that our project goal was achieved; to honor these veterans for “boots on the ground” service by providing warm and comfort in a new pair of boots.

In December, General Needs purchased and donated new winter coats, scarves, hats and gloves and provided these as wrapped holiday gifts to 400+ veterans. In addition, local crochet groups and knitting guilds provide handmade "You Matter" blankets for the Northport VA Homeless Veterans housed in the Salvation Army Annex in Bldg. 11.

During the monthly “Distribution with Dignity” in January, a veteran noted that he was able to get a job because he had new boots and a new coat! These simple items provided him the self-respect and confidence to seek employment.

Your donation will be used to purchase similar items as noted above for direct distribution to the homeless veterans and veterans in need we support. Please help General Needs thank the veterans for their service from a grateful nation.

*Point-in-Time Counts are unduplicated 1-night estimates of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless populations. The 1-night counts are conducted by Continuums of Care nationwide and occur during the last week in January of each year.