Staff photos / Bob Coupland ... Veterans’ Outreach, a local nonprofit organization that helps veterans in the area, recently moved into its new home, a 16,000-square-foot building off Colonial Drive in Liberty. John Ely, founder / president, left, Teri Ely, executive director, and Bob Julian, services director, are pictured in the lobby of the new building that is two stories and previously was used as a call center.

LIBERTY — Veterans’ Outreach, which provides services and direct aid to area veterans, has moved to a new and larger location off Colonial Drive to start the new year.

The move took place in early December, and the doors at the new two-story site, which offers veterans a food pantry and a thrift store, are now open.

The nonprofit organization needed more space to expand programs for the veterans it serves.

Teri Ely, executive director, said Veterans’ Outreach occupied a smaller one-floor building off Belgrade Avenue for more than eight years.

“We have always needed more space,” Ely said. “A Realtor spoke with us and said there was a building off Colonial Drive if we were interested in seeing it. The building had been up for sale for a while. The building was put up for auction in 2022.”

Ely said VO had been looking for a new location for the past five years.

According to Ely, she and others from Veterans’ Outreach showed up at the auction, and no one else was there. Because of that, she said the organization was able to get the property for 20% of what the seller wanted at $140,000.

The building previously had been used as a call center for medical billing.

“This facility not only enables us to enhance our existing programs but also launch the VO Depot, our new thrift store, with all proceeds benefiting the financial services for veterans,” she said.

Ely added that the food pantry is four times larger in the new location. The new building also fills the growing need to serve more veterans who need necessities because the price of essentials, such as food, gas and utilities, is going up.

“Many are on fixed incomes and when the costs go up, what do you do?” Ely said.

The organization plans to sell its previous location.

WHAT’S INSIDE

The first floor will be used for providing services to veterans with an area where they can congregate and receive aid. The food pantry and store also will be on the first floor. The second floor will house administrative offices.

The new building has 16,000 square feet, while the previous building occupied only 3,600 square feet. Ely said electrical work was done in recent months.

Veterans’ Outreach also is seeking a grant from the Trumbull County commissioners through American Rescue Plan funds, Ely said, for windows and refurbishing of the front entrance of the building. With a staff of eight, the organization runs only on donations and receives no government funding.

The building is open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and serves Trumbull and Mahoning counties, along with other areas of the state.

Veterans seeking financial assistance meet with Bob Julian, services director, who also addresses referrals from other agencies for veterans needing assistance.

“We try not to duplicate services but make sure there are no cracks for veterans to fall through,” Ely said. “We work with many other veteran agencies to enhance what they do. If we give a veteran a gas card, another agency may give food and clothing. The VA may help a veteran find housing, and they may need temporary shelter and we help them. When they need a new place to live, we may have the furniture or the small appliances they need.”

The move to a new building sets the stage for the future of Veterans’ Outreach. Ely said the move is the biggest transition the organization has made in its history. Looking back, she said she doesn’t know how they operated in their old building.

With the recent opening, a sign has been placed on the main entrance of the building. Ely said many veterans tell them they like to come to the new location to socialize with other veterans.

“They feel safe and accepted here and leave with their dignity,” she said.

HELP FROM OTHERS

Veterans’ Outreach has received a lot of help during its move. The Hubbard Veterans of Foreign Wars post, which is remodeling, donated many tables and chairs, according to Ely.

For the holidays, Howland High School students presented a $300 check to Veterans’ Outreach. On Veterans’ Day, the Howland Student Senate sold American flags during lunch, which were displayed outside the school. All proceeds from the sale went to veterans as a symbol of gratitude for their service.

Howland High School students also baked cookies and other treats for the veterans.

FINDING A PURPOSE

John Ely, founder / president of Veterans’ Outreach, which began locally in 1994, said many veterans he has spoken to say they appreciate having more space to congregate and socialize with one another.

“We hear so many uplifting stories from the veterans who come here and visit,” John Ely said.

He said after experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, he learned that many of those who were homeless were veterans. He added many members of his family are veterans, and his son was recently commissioned as a major in the military.

Veterans’ Outreach recently learned from Western Reserve Transit Authority that it had received the 2023 holiday lights recognition for the work it does to provide resources to Mahoning Valley veterans.

The Elys said they are seeking donations as a nonprofit organization, with money going toward helping veterans,

“For every dollar that we receive to help a veteran, we have to go and raise it first. There is no government funding,” Teri Ely said. “There is no automatic renewal of grants, so we have to continue to file for grants. We have to continue to fundraise and hold special events.”

She said money is raised so veterans can receive a food card.

Teri Ely said donations have helped veterans in crisis with repairing leaking roofs, providing shelter for homeless veterans and providing transportation to memorial services.

“The donations make a world of difference in the lives of those who have bravely served our country,” Teri Ely said.

“It is a miracle that we were able to get this building. There is so much more we can do here with the space available,” John Ely said.

He said plans are to use the kitchen for preparing food and for making and selling perogies.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com