Veterans Stand Down: Meet NC’s Veteran Service Organizations
By: Grace Smith – Wise News Network
BESSEMER CITY, NC (WNN) – The backyard of Camp Centurion is usually a busy place to be. From the recently installed prayer garden to the wide open green space, it is not uncommon to find a resident enjoying the outdoors. However, during the Veterans Stand Down event it was even busier.
Camp Centurion is a transitional housing program for veterans in need. On Saturday, May 18, 2024, the organization hosted an outreach event called Veterans Stand Down. The event aimed to introduce community members to Camp Centurion and other veterans’ resources.
At the event, Camp Centurion provided a barbecue lunch for attendees to enjoy before the opening ceremony. Speakers, including Camp Centurion board members and a resident, addressed the audience on important veteran-related topics.
Before the ceremony, various organizations set up booths around the Camp Centurion grounds. These included healthcare providers, support groups and more. Each organization sought to inform veterans and their families about their services.
One impactful organization that attended was Mission 22, a non-profit dedicated to ending veteran suicide. Kevin Evans is a Mission 22 ambassador. He attended Veterans Stand Down as a vendor and a speaker during the opening ceremony.
In an interview, Evans explained that Mission 22 is a global organization that provides free services to veterans and their families. Most of Mission 22’s services are geared toward combating post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and traumatic brain injuries.
“Anything we can do to stop a veteran from taking their life,” said Evans.
He became involved with the organization after learning how pervasive veteran suicide is. As a veteran himself, the issue resonated with him greatly. Since joining Mission 22, Evans has witnessed a shift in the culture surrounding veteran suicide.
“We are finally beginning to see community awareness; Now the military is actually starting to come on board with admitting that it is an issue, so they are offering resources,” said Evans.
In his speech, Evans mentioned that Mission 22 was formed in 2013. At that time, 22 veterans committed suicide a day.
“Mission 22 has to be mission zero. Veteran suicide is out of control, it must stop,” said Evans with conviction.
Veterans and family members in need can access Mission 22’s service online. It lists crisis hotlines for soldiers, wellness programs and other initiatives centered around mental health.
Mission 22 and Camp Centurion have conjoining goals. Conversations about veteran suicide typically include discussions about veteran homelessness and substance abuse. These disparities overlap greatly.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veteran Affairs (VA) supportive housing division, nearly 60% of homeless veterans have substance abuse disorder.
Moreover, a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) study found that homeless patients using VHA services are twice as likely to die by suicide compared to veterans with no history of homelessness.
Rob Padgett is a resident at Camp Centurion. He introduced himself during the opening ceremony, remarking that it was amazing that the audience could see him.
“The fact that you can see me is amazing. You know why,” asked Padgett, “Because I’m part of the Invisible Society. I’m homeless.”
The Invisible Society refers to unhoused individuals. Padgett said the name is fitting because these individuals go about their daily lives unnoticed by most people.
“Being homeless is not a choice you make; it’s a consequence. And a lot of it is out of your control,” said Padgett.
In his speech, he addressed how he ended up unhoused. He was on a fixed income and his rent was raised. Padgett was evicted and lived in his car for six months.
He contacted various federal organizations, such as the VA and HUD, for assistance. However, due to high demand, waiting lists extended to over eight months. One day, a VA representative contacted him about Camp Centurion.
Padgett called, and within a day he was living at Camp Centurion.
[They] said, “I’m gonna do everything in my power to make sure that you don’t sleep in your car tonight,” said Padgett.
In an interview, Padgett said he has been at Camp Centurion for around seven months. He explained that each resident must have a job, participate in house chores and maintain sobriety while living in the house.
One chore that Padgett has adopted is the chef of the camp. He enjoys cooking and will frequently prepare meals for the residents, staff and volunteers.
“I cook whatever they want. We like a lot of southern stuff, [so] we do cornbread, pork chops, things like that,” said Padgett.
He expressed his gratitude to the staff and board members of Camp Centurion; an organization created by veterans, for veterans. Even the contractor who renovated Camp Centurion embodies this statement.
Greg Dimmer, of Dimmer & Sons Construction, Inc., was approached by one of the founders, Ivan “Bud” Strope, because he had previously worked with Habitat for Humanity.
“They had already just procured the house, but they were having a hard time getting the construction work going, and they were a little bit low on funds,” said Dimmer.
Dimmer and numerous volunteers worked together to transform the house. It took two years and a lot of assistance, but that effort was worth it, according to Dimmer.
He is so passionate about assisting veterans in need, that Dimmer & Sons has also partnered with Purple Heart Homes to help rebuild a Vietnam War Veteran’s house. Additionally, Dimmer has recently been appointed to the Camp Centurion board of directors.
It has been a journey for the Camp Centurion directors, volunteers and founders. “Bud” Strope and the other two founders, Mike Cloy and Micheal Meeks, first discussed Camp Centurion over breakfast. Each founder is a veteran with experience in veteran service jobs.
“Mike [Cloy] was involved in finding jobs for veterans; Mike Meeks, was involved in helping them find a place to live and pay their bills,” said Strope, “I had been counseling veterans because, after the Lord healed me, I took up the ministry of counseling veterans.”
They took their three fields of interest and combined them into one organization: Camp Centurion.
Strope said they wanted to create a temporary home that veterans would be comfortable in. The living space is almost set up like a barrack. They chose the name “Camp Centurion” to add a military flair and to indicate that, like other camps, this one is temporary.
Although he no longer serves as a director, Strope is still heavily involved. His overarching goal after getting the camp up and running is to serve as the chaplain. This role resonates with Strope’s passion for spreading his ministry to veterans in need.
“We are absolutely blessed,” said Strope.
Veterans Stand Down served as a conduit of information, helping organizations connect with veterans in need. Camp Centurion introduced community members to some of the countless service organizations dedicated to helping veterans.
The journey of Camp Centurion, driven by veterans, demonstrates a dedication to helping a community often misunderstood by outsiders. Those who have experienced the challenges of being a veteran understand its complexities and can help those in need.
List of organizations:
- Carolina Caring: https://www.carolinacaring.org/
- Veterans Services of the Carolinas: https://www.abccm-vsc.org
- Veterans and Community Alliance: https://vcalincolnton.org/
- Right at Home of Belmont & South Charlotte: https://www.rightathome.net/
- The Paws HQ, Inc.: https://thepawshq.com/
- Gaston County Department of Veterans Services: https://www.gastongov.com/789/Veterans-Services
- Synergy HomeCare of Gastonia: https://synergyhomecare.com/nc-gastonia-28054/
- Triple Aces Barbershop: https://www.tripleacesbarbershop.com/
- Mission 22: https://mission22.com/
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC): https://www.bluecrossnc.com/
- Trans-Tech: https://trans-tech.net/
- Salisbury National Cemetery: https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/salisbury.asp
- Foothills Veterans Helping Veterans: https://www.foothillsveteranshelpingveterans.com/
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