Greg Walden honors COVO
U.S. Rep. Greg Walden submitted the following statement into the Congressional Record to honor Central Oregon Veterans Outreach for their work on behalf of the region's veterans. He presented the organization with a copy of the statement at his town hall in Bend on April 3.
HON. GREG WALDEN OF OREGON IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tribute to Central Oregon Veterans Outreach
Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to pay special tribute to Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO) for their tireless efforts on behalf of homeless veterans in Oregon’s Second District. Since its founding in 2005 by members of the Bend/La Pine Vietnam Veterans of America, COVO has grown from a handful of concerned veterans reaching out to other veterans in the homeless camps around the area to a full-fledged nonprofit organization with countless volunteers, a dedicated staff, and a truly professional board of directors.
In the early years of this organization, a small group of Vietnam veterans took it upon themselves to visit homeless camps on the High Desert, providing much needed supplies and support to those veterans who fell upon hard times and were in desperate need of a hand up. Today, COVO has a full time staff that coordinates continuing volunteer efforts to deliver food, water, tents, sleeping bags, clothing, and propane to the region’s homeless camps. In addition to making weekly trips with supplies, COVO has transformed a van into a mobile medical clinic that is staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses, and medical staff who provide free care to the homeless population each week. This is an invaluable service to those in need.
COVO continues to provide free assistance to veterans in the form of benefits claim-filing, bus passes, medical shuttle reservations, and assistance with accessing resources like the HUD-VASH housing voucher program and transitional housing at their 6-bed “Home of the Brave” facility. COVO continues to advocate for those veterans who are most in need of assistance and who are unable to be their own voice in times of need.
Mr. Speaker, we like to say, “We will never forget what our veterans have done for our way of life.” They put their lives on the line for this country, and we cannot turn our backs on them. Any of them.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that my fellow colleagues join me in recognizing COVO for their staunch and invaluable advocacy on behalf of our most vulnerable veterans: President Linda Heatley; Secretary/Treasurer Rob Bryce; Directors Susan Steves, Craig Jorgensen, Rickie Gunn, Jerry Chinn, Dan Lauderback, Lauri Imholt, and Dr. Elizabeth Leeburg; Executive Director Chuck Hemingway; Counselors Alex Weiss and Allen Wilson; Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program staff Steve Wilkes, Ruth Clark, and Yvonne Devine; Outreach Coordinator Lisa Miller; Volunteer Coordinator Kim Darling; Office Administrator and DAV Shuttle Coordinator Chuck Man; Housing Manager Steve Haupt, and; Veteran Service Officer Patricia White and VSO Intern Kim Burger.
Mr. Speaker, the staff, board, and volunteers who comprise COVO deserve the thanks of a grateful nation for all they have done and continue to do for the veterans of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties.