The H.A.V.E. Project (Helping Assist Veterans Everyday) is a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization that was founded in January 2018 to help local Western New York veterans by collecting used assistive/mobility devices and distributing them at no cost to local veterans and their families.
The H.A.V.E. Project establishes local donation centers at physical therapy clinics and local organizations to accept donations and distributes the items to individual veterans (sending requests) or through local distributions sites such as the WNY Veterans Housing Coalition, VA Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program (Buffalo, NY) and service organizations such as the Lions Club.
The Project welcomes donations of used walkers, transport chairs, wheelchairs and similar devices. Donations of gift cards, restaurant gift certificates and funds are also accepted for use in raffles for veterans and for fundraising activities to assist veterans with medical equipment repairs.
Since January 2018, over $60,000 worth of equipment and devices have been giving out to veterans and their families. In the summer of 2018, the H.A.V.E. Project started an annual Street Party Food Drive for Homeless Veterans. This event produced enough food to fill a large pickup truck for local homeless veterans. This year’s Street Party was held on June 22nd in Williamsville, NY.
As of July 2019, the H.A.V.E. Project launched its very own podcasts (and videos) in order to connect the veteran community with the community at large. The podcast format will include interviews of veterans, veteran service organizations, and veteran supporters and includes live musicians playing during the breaks of the interviews. The podcast puts a positive spin on veterans in the community who are actively seeking to make WNY a better place. Find the episodes on Apple Podcast and Podbean.