NJ homeless veterans nonprofit close to reaching 2024 goal

Brad Wadlow, MyCentralJersey.com
·2 min read

The multi-award-winning, Bedminster-based nonprofit, Independence for Veterans, has won its sixth consecutive “Certificate of Appreciation” award from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

The award was given for the nonprofit's continued, outstanding contributions to the New Jersey homeless veterans community.

Since Jan. 1, Independence for Veterans has successfully hand-delivered $495,000-plus worth of brand-new clothing, laptops, groceries, bedding, toiletries andmore to veterans’ transitional housing facilities, and has expanded into Pennsylvania. Their 2024 goal is to reach $500,000 by the end of the year.

Independence for Veterans singlehandedly hand-delivers the aforementioned items directly to the veteran’s homeless shelters by their CEO, Stacia McDonough, and her team of volunteers.

Independence for Veterans was founded by McDonough, the widow of decorated Vietnam veteran, Sgt. John E. McDonough, USAF, 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, enlisted. After his passing, John McDonough was posthumously inducted to The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Holmdel, on Veterans Day in 2008. The nonprofit was named in honor of John E. McDonough as his birthday was the Fourth of July.

Vietnam veteran Sgt. John E. McDonough, USAF, enlisted.
Vietnam veteran Sgt. John E. McDonough, USAF, enlisted.

David Culley, the superintendent of Veteran’s Haven North, said in the a release, “Stacia McDonough is a true veteran advocate. Her selfless dedication to the men and women of Veteran's Haven North is awe-inspiring and highly motivating for veterans and staff alike. Independence for Veterans is a pillar of support for our nation's bravest.”

“40,000 veterans sleeping on the streets of this great nation is categorically unacceptable. As a grassroots charity, it is our great privilege to provide these noble ex-servicemen and women the compassionate one-on-one assistance they deserve. Homeless and veterans are two words that should never go together,” says said Louis J. Manzo, an Independence for Veterans board member.

For further information on the missions of Independence for Veterans, or to donate, visit www.i4v.org.

Brad Wadlow is a staff writer for MyCentralJersey.com

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Independence for Veterans close to reaching 2024 goal