Student Contributor -S. Gillespie
Newbyginnings was created by Teresa Hart, mother of fallen soldier SPC Nicholas Newby. Her life was forever changed when her son died unexpectedly in Iraq. She quit her job and eventually created Newbyginnings to help local veterans. Every day they help many Veterans, Active Servicemen and Women, and Gold Star Families that are struggling financially. They may be struggling with the VA system, health issues, or even relationship problems because of the related stress. We have found that Newbyginnings is a place where they can come not only for basic household necessities, but peer support, resources and referrals to other agencies.
Newbyginnings has an entire thrift store that veterans are able to utilize for free. This also includes a food bank section where there are cans or other types of preserved food. Veterans can furnish an entire apartment, from beds to lamps or even silverware. If they do not have what someone needs, they can let them know and they will be contacted as soon as one is donated. Veterans can also get peer support from Newbyginnings staff, many of whom are veterans themselves. Newbyginnings will also help veterans get other care or help that they are not qualified to provide from other agencies that can. They average 100 veterans a day in their shop and have helped over 2,500 veterans since they were founded.
When I was the treasurer of the Veteran’s club at SCC, we orchestrated a haunted house in the gym. The entrance fee was a can of food to donate to Newbyginnings. We had a lot of fun creating a haunted house, but also so did the people that participated. In the end we gave Newbyginnings 3, 50-gallon barrels of canned or dried food. We also received 135 dollars in cash donations. I was the member of the club that personally delivered this resource we created for them. I could see myself doing this with my students in the future. I could also see this as a means to provide peer support and deliver student letters to the veterans that probably need kind words the most.
