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For years, the chiefs have collected food and clothing to be donated to veterans in need.
“This year we felt that the veterans could be better served through a gift card program,” Bogota Police Chief John Burke told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “We believe it’s the least we could do for the cover of freedom and way of life these veterans have provided — and continue to provide – for all of us.”
Burke is at far left in the photo above with (l. to r.): Bogota VFW Post #5561 Commander Alex Hernandez, Richard Sdaul of Bergen County TRACERS, Al Hermann of Bogota VFW Post #5561, Karen Kreitz (Program Coodinator, Alfred J. Thomas Home for Veterans), Emerson Police Chief Donald Rossi (Bergen County Police Chiefs Foundation Chairman), Claudia Coffreda (Alfred J. Thomas Home for Veterans) and Garfield Police Chief Kevin Amos.
Community Hope’s Alfred J. Thomas Home for Veterans is an 8-bed transitional housing program for homeless veterans recovering from mental illness and/or substance abuse. Services include transitional housing for up to two years, case management and counseling, employment assistance and training, on-site computers, links to community resources, transportation and more.
Tracers — named for military glow-in-the-dark ammo — aims to end homelessness for veterans in Bergen County. Volunteers work to locate homeless veterans and connect them with community-based and VA sponsored programs and benefits, among other resources.
Donations are used to supply bus tickets to jobs, assist in preparing the veteran for employment, and to fill-in gaps in the service delivery system.
It also has an eight-bed transitional home in Garfield.
PHOTO: Courtesy BERGEN COUNTY POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
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