06/26/2025
Public service announcement
There has been a change at Veterans Center of East Tennessee. In May the board made the decision to suspend operations until low cost to no cost property can be found. It wasn't practical to raise $2,500 a month when we couldn't pay our own personal bills.
This deducts the debts that are due that donations have been paying for the entire time, other than the Opioid Abatement Allocation made by the County Commissioners. It was an allocation for one year of operations.
We were happy to announce at the budget committee meeting that we were able to allocate that money for a year and a half instead of just one year. Also we were able to report that we had an audit done on the allocation made by the county as well as our 990 already filed.
Zero boxes have been collected since the last day that Veteran Center was moved to storage.
UPDATE: DONATION BOXES HAVE BEEN PICKED UP FOR WEEKS. NO CHECKS HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED, OTHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF UPCOMING RELOCATION.
Veteran Center of East Tennessee is still a passion and a desire to be filled. We had an amazing 3 years when we didn't think that we could last one year.
VCET was created in a moment of desperation for the Veterans who had become isolated, addicted and suicidal. The Veterans who were attending the Hwy 66 location (10-20 a day) were under the impression that the particular location was going to shut down due to legal issues.
To start Veteran Center of East TN, we would go from a 3 paycheck household to a 1 paycheck household. The only pay we had was from my full time job as a Direct Support Professional, my last day as a DSP was July 1st 2024, a year ago.
My husband and I chose to start VCET. On the first day we had a Pres, VP, Secretary, Chairman & Chaplain. For 3 years, Board Members have changed but we've never received a bad resignation letter. We individually loved anyone who has been on the Board of Directors. Until May 2025, Board Members met monthly. Since May 2025, the meeting of the Board is quarterly.
Our baby was born disabled last summer. Due to our baby's frequent Shiner's trips to Lexington KY every week. 12 castings in 16 weeks of her life. We couldn't work onsite for more than 2-3 days a week, if not over the phone over the road. This showed us the hard way that family had to be made a priority. We're VERY grateful for every hour of every day that we got with her in 4 months.
After losing our 4 month old daughter in December, our attitudes and views have changed in many different areas. We see new ways we can help, more importantly experience to share with the next person who's just trying to stay alive. Life Recovery is where I desire to serve.
In 2022, Veterans, like my father, asking me if they were going to lose their place. Michael and I chose to stand in the gap as long as we could for the Hawkins County Veterans. We've always been residents of Claiborne County, but Michael had a personal relationship with those particular Veterans after working with them for the previous year in 2021. We stayed for them, to make a living amends to my own late father. 3 years later, The same guys we started it for, was still there when the doors closed. It was bittersweet.
There will be a newspaper article coming out in the Rogersville review it has been in the works for the last month. Please respect the article because the article isn't just about the founders or the Veteran Center Board of Directors, it's about God and His Will.
My husband is now a service connected veteran.
A service-connected veteran who rated a 70 on his service connected PTSD. I for one am very proud of my husband not only for his prior service but also the service that he committed to inside the town of Rogersville, for the veterans of Rogersville who he seen needed help just like him. We're both learning as we go, more about ourselves and priorities.
Our next baby is due only two days after the one yr anniversary of our 4 month old passing away. We want to continue having a healthy and strong pregnancy. With our last, I was experiencing panic attacks and I just can't allow that to happen again.
We have to take care of our mental health. No one can pour from an empty cup. God bless everyone who has contributed. Even a $25 donation told me we could afford printer ink, that gave me a smile!
THANK you for allowing us to serve your beautiful town!
