By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–While many people are aware of the homeless veteran situation in Birmingham, many do not know these individuals are not sufficiently provided for on the weekends.

The VA does maintain shelters, however, not everyone is ensured a spot. Those left without shelter are provided meals during the workweek but on the weekends they go unfed unless the veterans can make it to Linn Park to be fed by the local churches and nonprofits.

There are approximately 25 homeless veterans in the downtown Birmingham area, which have no food on the weekends as they have no way to reach Linn Park to obtain food.

In order to help provide for the homeless veterans, a group of ladies from various communities started getting together once a month to prepare bags of food, snacks and water for those heroes.

The group is called “Helping Hungry Heroes” and is currently meeting at Helena Cumberland Presbyterian Church on a monthly basis to assemble between 80-90 gallon bags of food, which lasts anywhere from 4-6 weeks. Each back contains enough food for two days.

This cost is around $350 each month. Due to this cost, the group is asking those considering joining to either help with financial assistance or purchasing some food items to supply to the veterans.

Those wishing to help financially please make out checks to Helena C.P.W. and in the memo section note “For Vets.”

All funds will be used for food for the homeless Vets.

To donate food items, the church is open Sundays between 8-11 a.m. and 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

A list of possible items are as follows:

• Pop tarts.
• Fruit and granola bars.
• Cereal bars.
• Protein bars.
• Fruit cups and pudding cups.
• Bagged snacks.
• Rice Krispie and Little Debbie snacks.
• Beanie Weenies and Vienna Sausages.
• Juice boxes or bottled water.

For any questions or to receive more information, please contact Stephanie Harris at Slkharris81@gmail.com, Michelle Burt at Mich0975@att.net or Jan Broadhead at Jkb0147@yahoo.com.

Helena Cumberland Presbyterian Church is located at 3396 Helena Road.