For those who may not know, I currently host a weekly podcast, La Femme de Prose, with the support of Focus on Women Magazine. We converse primarily with women authors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and so-forth. It has been a very rewarding experience!
We’ve been extremely busy with the podcast as our guest list and audience continues to grow. In between our weekly episodes, we make sure to head out to community events and support local organizations and causes. We recently attended the 21st Annual MCVET 5K/10K Walk Run at the War Memorial Plaza in Baltimore, MD and it was an awesome event! Major support was given to the local vets who need housing, education and job seeking assistance. MCVET, the Maryland Center for Veteran Education and Training, provides training to more than 250 veterans on a daily basis through their 5 programs that help veterans transition successfully back to civilian life and training for employment success.
The Walk/Run consisted of people from all walks and backgrounds. Many were prior vets, some current service members and others well-known community leaders. I had the chance to meet some of the organizers and others who brought out their own organizations to show support. There was great music, prizes, healthy food and of course the Walk/Run itself.
Some harsh facts:
- According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, there were an estimated 313,000 vets who were homeless on any given night in the United States.
- Veterans account for 23% of the homeless population
- Thirty-three percent of homeless vets are men
It’s bad enough that a veteran returns home after fighting for their country to face confusion, rejection and support. In addition, they may be battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among other ailments. This is why events such as the Annual 5K are important not just for vets, but for the local communities as well as they are educated about issues that need to be known.
For more information on MCVET, go here. You can also make donations through their website.
Be sure to check out the podcast! We’ve featured interviews here, but you can also go to the main website and listen to previous episodes!