MVAA Gold-level Veteran-Friendly Employer donates care kits to veterans experiencing homelessness

TROY, Mich. - In partnership with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA), Ajax Paving Industries donated care kits to help provide essential items to Michigan veterans experiencing homelessness. MVAA delivered the care kits to the non-profit organization EightCAP to be distributed to veterans in their communities.

As a MVAA Gold-level Veteran-Friendly Employer (VFE), Ajax Paving Industries wanted to take action to help veterans in need and started a drive among their employees to collect essential care items. Over the course of the drive, their employees accumulated four large boxes of items to be used in care kits.

Essential items in care kits may include:

• Travel-sized soap and shampoo
• Toiletry items
• Feminine hygiene products
• Clothing
• First aid supplies
• Blankets
• Bags or backpacks

"It was so important to us to provide these donations to veterans to show them that their service and lives matter," said Ajax human resources manager Christina O'Brien. "It's a way to offer a foundation that they can build on as they take the next steps in their journey." MVAA's homeless veteran coordinator Cassie Smith was contacted by Ajax for assistance in distributing the care kits. Smith delivered the kits to EightCAP, a non-profit organization that supports those experiencing homelessness, to ensure fair allocation to veterans. "With 1,699 veterans experiencing homelessness throughout Michigan, most don't have the essential items to perform good hygiene or keep warm," said Smith. "We're so grateful for Ajax's donations and continuous dedication to Michigan veterans." Ajax has been a VFE since 2022, reaching Gold-level status in 2023. MVAA's VFE program recognizes employers that commit to military veteran recruitment, training and retention practices by awarding those employers gold, silver and bronze level status. The program helps qualified organizations recruit and retain top veteran talent while providing others guidance to improve their recruitment efforts. "Veterans are near and dear to my company but also at home as my husband is a U.S. Army veteran and still serves our country to this day," continued O'Brien. "There are many veterans who are transitioning out of duty with no career path, so with the support of contractors and skilled trade programs we can continue to focus our efforts on supporting those who have made the decision to support our freedom." For more information on how you can help veterans experiencing homelessness, please contact Cassie Smith at [email protected]. If your organization would like to be recognized as a VFE, please fill out and submit the Veteran-Friendly Employer Application. For more information about the program, email [email protected]. Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency - The MVAA is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care, advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA or by reading our FY24 Annual Report.