They Kept Us Safe, Let's Keep Them Warm!

November 10,, 2024
 

The South Plainfield Elks collected a truckload of new clothing, toiletries, and groceries for our struggling veterans.

Pictured L to R:

 Elks member Margaret Williams, Independence for Veterans CEO Stacia McDonough, and Elks member Debbie Boyle. 

November 09, 2024
 

Ms. Chris Staffin of The Pluckemin Presbyterian Church,  Bedminster, along with 30 enthusiastic volunteers created 80 care  packages for our veterans in need. 

The children crafted heartwarming, handmade thank you cards that were included in each gift bag. 

October 29, 2024
Our  sincerest gratitude to The Bedminster Police Department for initiating  another pre-Veterans Day new clothing, toiletries and household items  drive benefiting our local homeless veterans.

Pictured L to R:
Mr. Louis J. Manzo (IFV Board Member) and Detective Taylor DelColle. 

 August 21, 2024

Mrs. Stacia McDonough  delivered new household items, new clothing, toiletries, and groceries  to the local NJ veterans housing complex. 

Accepting the items is Mr. Matthew Lanese. 

 July 29, 2024

With our, “Christmas in  July,” collection still going like gangbusters, Mrs. Stacia McDonough,  happily hand-delivered an SUV filled with brand new clothing, household  items, and toiletries to one of the local veterans housing complexes. 

Thank you for having their 6‼️ 🇺🇸🫡

 July 10, 2024

The gal with the heart of gold, Miss Kylie Balish, made another generous donation of underwear and socks for our former servicemen in need.

July 10, 2024

Patricia Dallessio and Frank Zalewski

donated new clothing and groceries towards our, “Christmas in July” campaign. 

June 20, 2024

Stacia McDonough personally hand-delivered brand new clothing, groceries, and toiletries to the local veterans transitional housing center.

Pictured L to R: Ms. Gianna G., Michael and Gary. 

May 21, 2024

Another delivery in time for Memorial Day…

Mr. Matthew Lanese, Resident Service Coordinator, accepted another delivery of groceries, toiletries and Tupperware for a local NJ veterans housing complex.

May 18, 2024
Bedminster, NJ, Starbucks joins in to celebrate our gallant veterans. They happily partnered with us for our annual, “Feed Our Heroes,” Food Drive.

Starbucks barista, Ms. Vanessa, enthusiastically helped gather all of the wonderful donations.

 May 15, 2024
Mr. Jim Mulvey, of the American Legion (SAL), Post 293, Warren, NJ donated essential groceries for the local veterans housing unit.

May 1, 2024
Groceries, kitchen appliances and cases of new towel sets delivered to the local NJ  veterans housing facility. 

Pictured: Ms. Alicia A. 

  April 17, 2024

Independence for Veterans enthusiastically donating groceries for an upcoming Veterans Stand Down. The food will be given to the homeless veterans attending this event. 

Pictured: Mr. A.J. Luna, Co-Founder NJ SOS Veteran Stakeholders Group. 

A.J. is a U.S. Army Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, and was the former Director of Veterans Services for Bergen County, NJ.

 April 15, 2024
Roseanne Schwab (second from left), and her incredibly thoughtful colleagues from Peapack-Gladstone Bank organized this wonderful collection for our annual,

“Feed Our Heroes,” food drive.

Way to go Roseanne and Peapack-Gladstone Bank!

Ms. Gianna, the facility’s manager, happily assisted with the care packages.

April 8, 2024
Board Member, Mr. Louis Manzo, personally donated, and delivered new household appliances for the housing facility’s community kitchen.

Ms. Gianna, the facility’s manager, happily assisted with the care packages.

 April 7, 2024
Kudos to the South Plainfield, NJ Elks!

Their Lodge, #2298, collected a massive amount of groceries, toiletries, and new clothing for our vets in need.

L to R: Elks member and Trustee, Michelle Morin, Stacia McDonough, Independence for Veterans CEO, and Debbie Boyle, Elks member Trustee and Lecturing Knight.

 April 2, 2024

Outgoing! 

Stacia McDonough happily donated exclusive new clothing to Mr.  A.J. Luna, Co-Founder NJ SOS Veteran Stakeholders Group.
A.J. is a US Army Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, and was the former Director of Veteran Services for Bergen County, NJ.
The clothing will be given to homeless and struggling veterans at their upcoming Stand Down. 

 March 22, 2024
Independence for Veterans donating a bounty of donations to Bridges Outreach, Summit, NJ.

L to R: Christina Zamor and Lavar Summey picking up clothing and food donations.

 March 22, 2024
Jennifer and Rich of Veteran’s Haven North, NJ, graciously accepting a van load of stylish and warm Arctix clothing donations for the veterans housed at that facility.

March 19, 2024
Ms. Cheryl “Kit” Turner, USAF veteran and Founder of New Hope Village 4 Veterans, accepting brand new clothing donations from IFV to distribute to our needy veterans in Northern New Jersey. 

 March 15, 2024
Incoming delivery of luxurious Arctic boots! “Only the very best for our awesome veterans!,” say Mrs. Stacia McDonough, CEO of Independence for Veterans. She personally hand-delivered 20 cases that day. 

 March 15, 2024
Mrs. McDonough hand-delivered (with love!) new Arctix boots to Navy veterans Jay Barfield and Pedro Lovato at the Lyons facility.  

 March 13, 2024
Desert Storm Navy veteran, Kevin M. Walsh, makes a special visit to the Independence for Veterans storage to pick up some high-end Arctix boots, denim jeans and a spring jacket. 

 February 15, 2024
Mission accomplished! Groceries delivered to local NJ veterans housing facility. Resident manager, Matthew Lanese, accepted the goodies.

 February 7, 2024
Miss  Northern Lights Teen, Miss Kylie Balish, donating some lavish Bombas  socks, and spreading some sunshine, for our noble veterans.

February 5, 2024

The VMC accepting a full U-Haul truck load of cozy, brand new winter clothing donations to hand out to our veterans in need in South Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

L to R: Mike Polhemus (Marine and VMC Rep), Stacia McDonough (Independence for Veterans CEO) and Kent Milliken, Army Veteran and Case Manager for VMC.

 February 4, 2024
An all-American, patriotic thank you note accompanied every care package for our veterans.

God bless our veterans and God bless you Chris!

 February 4, 2024
The enthusiasm for our Veterans shines

through at the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church, Pluckemin, NJ.

Toiletries and necessities were collected, and bagged up with heartfelt thank you notes written by the children who truly admire our Veterans so! 

Special thanks to their lovely teacher Chris Staffin.

 January 27, 2024
East Brunswick, NJ  Elks #2370 does it again!

2 SUVs filled to the brim with food and clothing donations ready to be hand-delivered to the local veterans’ housing facility.

Round of applause for these outstanding Ladies!

L to R: Andrea Evans, Stacia McDonough (CEO Independence for Veterans) and Colleen Murphy.

  January 23, 2024
Mrs. Harriette Doll delivered an incredibly ample amount food donations to the veteran’s housing facility in Lyons, NJ.

 Photo L to R: Matthew Lanese and Harriette Doll.

   January 21, 2024
Special delivery of much-needed groceries donated by the South Plainfield, NJ Elks Lodge 2298.

   January 10, 2024
Cases  of Bombas socks hand-delivered by Stacia McDonough and Louis Manzo to  Veterans Haven South housing facility. Independence for Veterans doing  their utmost to keep our awesome veterans’ feet toasty during the  winter.

Pictured L to R:
Army veteran Steven and Brigadier General Patrick Kennedy.

  December 22, 2023

East Brunswick, NJ Elks donated groceries for the local veterans food pantry. 

L to R: Kathleen Hyland, Stacia (Independence for Veterans) Andrea Evans and Colleen Murphy.

The steadfast support of these hardworking Ladies has been extraordinary! 

  December 13, 2023

Spreading the Christmas cheer…

$32,500.  worth of brand new clothing, bedding, household items, toiletries, and  necessities hand-delivered to 2 veterans housing facilities in Somerset  County, NJ. 

  December 13, 2023

Spreading the Christmas cheer…

$32,500.  worth of brand new clothing, bedding, household items, toiletries, and  necessities hand-delivered to 2 veterans housing facilities in Somerset  County, NJ. 

 December 12, 2023
SAL:  American Legion Post 293, Warren, NJ donating 200+ new winter coats  (courtesy of Ocean State Job Lot, Clinton, NJ), new winter clothing, and  household items to spread the Christmas spirit to our phenomenal  veterans.

December 12, 2023
Peapack-Gladstone  Bank headquarters, Bedminster, NJ held a special toiletry drive for  Independence for Veterans. All of the goodies were hand-delivered this  morning to the local veterans housing facility. 

 December 11, 2023
Ms.  Natalia Malagon, branch manager of Citizens Bank, Pluckemin, happily  collecting new clothing donations for our 12th annual Christmas Drive.

 November 29, 2023

Brand new kitchen appliances, new clothing, toiletries and necessities delivered to the veterans living facility, Lyons, NJ.

Accepting the donations was Mr. Matthew Lanese, Resident Service Coordinator.

 November 13, 2023

The ultimate gratefulness to our immensely valiant men in blue at The Bedminster Township Police Department.

Your remarkably prosperous donations of groceries to our local veterans were met with miles of smiles!

November 3, 2023

The Independence for Veterans 12th annual Christmas Drive has officially kicked off!

This  morning’s delivery of kitchen appliances, new men’s clothing, bedding,  toiletries and groceries were enthusiastically accepted by Mr. Matthew  Lanese, Resident Service Coordinator at the Basking Ridge, NJ veteran’s  facility.

October, 25, 2023   

Coffee makers, George Foreman grills, and complete Tupperware sets donated to the Lyons veterans housing facility.

All items hand-delivered by Stacia McDonough and accepted by the resident manager, Ms. Gianna. 

  October 12, 2023

Vietnam veteran and DAV Treasurer, Mr. Richard Pirrello, donating food on behalf of the DAV. 

 September 28, 2023

Navy veteran, Mr. Harry Slater, accepting food and clothing donations for the Lyons, NJ facility from Mrs. Stacia McDonough. 

 September 12, 2023

The extraordinarily lovely Miss Kylie Balish once again showing her never-ending support of our heroes in need. She donated yet another case of Bombas socks to ensure our awesome vets have warm, and cozy feet. 

 September 14, 2023
Laptops, groceries, and new blankets
successfully hand-delivered to the local veteran’s transitional housing complex.

September 12, 2023

 The Veterans Committee of the South Plainfield Elks, NJ, BPOE 2298, generously jumping on board with our bi-annual, “Feed our Heroes” food drive.  

August 30, 2023

A marvelous bounty of goodies such as brand new clothing, laptops, and necessities were hand-delivered to the local veterans housing complex.

Featured in the photo is Ms. Gianna, the resident manager. 

August 22, 2023

Desert Shield/Desert Storm Navy veteran, Mr. Kevin M. Walsh receives an extra special, abundant  delivery of comfy Bombas socks and groceries. Hand-delivered to his doorstep by our CEO, Mrs. Stacia McDonough. 

Mr. Walsh won the distinguished, “Airman of the Year” award in 1989.

July 5, 2023

An entire case of Bombas socks, and toiletries delivered with love to Veteran’s Haven North, Glen Gardner, New Jersey. 

Ms. Carla accepting the donations on behalf of our phenomenal veterans.

 July 3, 2023
The phenomenally generous and beautiful Miss Kylie Balish, ever the dynamo, donating brand new socks, toiletries, and food for our homeless and disabled veterans. God bless you Kylie!

June 29, 2023 

Just in time for the Fourth of July.. 

Groceries and toiletries delivered to the veteran’s transitional housing facility, Lyons, N.J. Special thanks to Mr. Lenny Brewer and the DAV.

 June 8, 2023

Another bountiful food delivery to the veterans shelter! 

Our buddies Harry and Gary helping us unload all the goodies.

May 22, 2023 

The beautiful Miss Kylie Balish donated another case of Bombas socks. Her unwavering enthusiasm is contagious!

May 12, 2023 

Dunkin Donuts, Springfield, NJ supports our vets in need!

Special thanks to Ms. Christie Donatiello!

May 9, 2023
Massive new clothing, and necessities donations thanks to an extremely generous bequest from 4-imprint.

Hand-delivered by Mr. and Mrs. Harriette Doll.

May 1, 2023
David helping us unload food donations to the local veteran’s homeless shelter.