Community

The Disabled American Veterans Thrift Stores of Hampton Roads rely on community generosity in the form of household donations to provide merchandise to sell in their stores. While donations are accepted at all six locations throughout Southeastern Virginia, the DAV Thrift Stores also provide free donation pickup.

You’ll find thousands of items for sale daily including clothing, furniture, kitchenware, toys, books, tools, jewelry, radios and TVs.

Since selling is our goal, prices on existing merchandise are reduced weekly to encourage purchases. Those sales create profit after store operating expenses are paid. Those profits are used to provide assistance to disabled American veterans and other worthwhile charitable causes. Unsold merchandise is recycled to provide additional funds or donated to needy organizations worldwide.

“Donations are the backbone of the business,” says John Gajdek, Jr.

The Hampton Roads DAV provide assistance in many ways.

First and foremost DAV service officers work directly with veterans to be sure they are properly registered with the Veterans Administration so they receive their earned benefits. This is a significant issue for many disabled veterans.

“Any problem that a disabled American veteran has, they come to us,” says William Tucker a DAV volunteer.

In addition, each chapter’s Welfare & Relief Committee accepts requests for financial aid from various sources. These requests range from individual assistance with monthly bills such as mortgage or power company statements, to requests that benefit large groups of disabled veterans or other needful organizations in Hampton Roads.

“The money stays in Tidewater from the money we generate from what’s been given to us”. Charlie Craft, Senior Vice-Commander, DAV Chapter Two.
“And for the homeless vets that’s a good source for helping them. And we have a lot of homeless veterans in the area,”adds Mary Beamer, DAV Service Officer.

All DAV members are volunteers. They do what they do because there’s a need. Because they understand what challenges disabled veterans face and because they care.

More donations equal more money. We appreciate everything that you donate and we can use every bit you give. Please give to the disabled American veterans.