Nurse leads charge for veterans this holiday season

Every day, Vandergrift resident Marie Kijowski works with veterans as a nurse at the Veterans Affairs hospital in O’Hara.

Although she sees veterans from all walks of life, Kijowski said she is moved by talking to the less fortunate.

She wanted to use the holiday season as a way to help them get back on their feet by organizing the Ford City VFW’s Homeless Veteran Christmas Tree Project.

“I don’t believe any veteran should be homeless or going without things in life, like clothing or things to keep them warm,” Kijowski said. “So I made it my personal mission to help them as much as I could.”

The project benefits the Mechling Shakley Veterans Center in Cowansville.

The center is a nonprofit residential facility that can house about 70 and is currently providing short- and long-term housing to 60 veterans. The center offers mental health and substance abuse counseling, transportation and job placement services to homeless veterans.

“These people can never be recognized enough for what they’ve done for our country,” Kijowski said. “This is the least we can do for them.”

This year marks the VFW’s second Homeless Veteran Christmas Tree Project. Last year, the organization collected enough bedding to provide fresh sheets, pillows and blankets for each of the beds at the center, Kijowski said.

Kijowski, who grew up in Ford City, was not surprised by the outpouring of support from the community last year.

“My heart breaks every day for these veterans, but everyone was so supportive of our efforts,” Kijowski said. “It’s amazing what our community can do when we come together.”