Image

Helping with homelessness close to home

November 18, 2022

Petrolia Legion steps up to help homeless friend

The homelessness crisis has hit close to home for the Petrolia Legion. And now members are appealing to the community to help at least one person find stable housing.

It all started two months ago, when Legion member Alex Billings – who is a veteran and the veteran services officer for Branch 216 – received a phone call about a local veteran who was living in his car in Sarnia. Billings sprang into action first finding his friend on the streets of Sarnia and then obtaining some emergency assistance and to get him a temporary place to stay.

The veteran, who is well known to members of the Petrolia Legion, is in temporary housing. Billings and the legion members have been working hard to find a long-term home for the man.

The situation is difficult, but not unusual in Lambton. County officials counted more than 50 people living “rough” or outdoors in August. The county is organizing a homelessness summit in the coming weeks.

It’s also not unusual for veterans says Robert White. He’s the Petrolia Legion’s Poppy Campaign Chair and the zone services officer.

As they return to civilian life, many veterans deal with mental health issues, including post traumatic stress disorder. Both Billings and White said there is a hyper awareness that comes from being in the service. For example, when White enters a room, he is always looking for weapons. “They trained us to fight and they expect us to find peace,” said White.

White adds the veteran the Petrolia Legion is helping now “didn’t do anything wrong. Guys fall through the cracks all the time.”

Billings said a veteran needs that person who understands, who can talk about their experiences. Another veteran, and programs run by veterans, often help.
Donations from poppies around Remembrance Day help veterans, their families and the communities they live in. That includes giving a hand up to veterans who find themselves without a place to live.

One of the programs the Petrolia Legion used to help this veteran is Operation Leave the Streets Behind, which was developed 10 years ago by the Legion’s Ontario Provincial Command. It has helped 1,043 veterans who were homeless or near homeless. Over $1 million has been given to these veterans to improve their situations for items such as first and last month’s rent, paying past due rent, medical needs such as dental, eyeglasses, transportation to medical appointments, furnishings, food and clothing.

And while the Petrolia Legion is accessing all the programs it can to help, it’s also raising money to help more directly.

A spaghetti supper is being held on Saturday Nov. 19 at the Petrolia Legion Branch as part of this effort with all the proceeds going to the veteran.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Legion’s bar or by calling 519-882-1201. Doors open for the spaghetti dinner at 5 p.m. with dinner being served at 6 p.m. The silent auction will close at 8:30 p.m.

If you can’t attend but would like to donate, you can do that here

https://checkout.square.site/buy/AIF5DASDPXCUXR7CSWNDIEHI

Share This

Image
Front Page

In an election of Trumps and Tariffs, ‘Agriculture is a non-topic’

April 25, 2025

Blake Ellis/The Independent “Agriculture is a non-topic,” says Brian Eves. The president of the Lambton Federation of Agriculture is about the federal election campaign.The Independent talked to Eves and Lambton dairy farmer, Kevin Forbes about the issues farmers face and what the politicians are saying that is catching their attention. Less than two percent of the Canadian population are farm

Read More

Image
Front Page

Canada’s future, affordability and local journalism all part of the final debate

April 25, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent The very last speaker of in the very last Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong debate threw away his prepared closing remarks. After listening to the problems Canada is facing, and the historic choices voters will make April 28, Liberal Candidate George Vandenberg said he wanted to speak “from the heart. “My family came from war torn Europe in 1951, 1952. My

Read More

Image
Front Page

York1 project will still follow environmental rules says MPP

April 24, 2025

‘This is the hand I’ve been dealt’ says Pinsonneault Heather Wright/The Independent Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Steve Pinsonneault is trying to reassure Dresden residents the York1 Environmental Waste Solution’s plan to expand the derelict dump will still have to follow environmental standards. Pinsonneault is spoke to The Independent a week after the Ford Government quietly announced it wants to clear away some

Read More

Image
Front Page

Plans for Camlachie mini arena shelved

April 24, 2025

The project’s drivers – the Huron Shores Optimists – say it would place a financial burden on the club Heather Wright/The Independent The Huron Shores Optimist and the Town of Plympton-Wyoming say they will be working together on a recreation project in Camlachie, but it won’t be the $2.3 million outdoor arena project. The Optimist floated the idea of an

Read More