BPW seeks coat donations for women veterans

HONESDALE — A coat drive is underway to benefit The Mary E. Walker House, a transitional residential center for women veterans located in Coatesville, Pa.

Of the nearly 300 homeless veterans shelters across the United States designed to house, feed, and educate those who have served in the nation’s Armed Forces. The Walker House is one of only 15 specifically dedicated to women. The facility accommodates 30 women at a time and, according to Melissa Rickard, CRNP, family nurse practitioner at the Honesdale Family Health Center, “is filled to capacity on any given day.”

Rickard, a retired major from the Air Force Reserve with 21 years service, and Betty Caruth, PhD, RN, owner of Minerva Educational and Treatment Center, also a retired major with 20 years in the Army Reserve, share a personal connection to the cause and ask others to reach into their closets to show thanks and support for military women on their journey to rejoin society.

“We are both veterans and there are veterans out there in need," said Caruth. "This is our way of paying it forward and trying to make the world a better place."

The Wayne County Business and Professional Women (BPW) is sponsoring the drive. Coats may be dropped off Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., at The Honesdale Family Health Center and VA Outpatient Clinic located in Suite 2 of the Stourbridge Medical and Professional Complex, 600 Maple Ave.; or at Re/Max of Wayne County, 416 Main St., both in Honesdale.

The drive has brought in close to 50 coats to date and will continue until Jan. 15. Collections of items such as cosmetics and clothing for the Walker House are being considered by BPW as future projects.

For more information visit vmcenter.org.