US Army disabled veteran and founder of Veteran’s Connection, Lisa Groves is on a mission to help veterans across the country.
“I’m making sure that no veteran is left behind and making sure the government takes better care of our veterans,” Groves said.
Groves, who is disabled and in a wheelchair, is traveling to all 48 states through December 2011 to raise awareness for homeless veterans.
Her quest began September 2nd when she left West Virginia and she's been paying for the entire trip out of her own pocket, often sleeping in her car to save money.
“It doesn't matter as long as I’m able to help a veteran,” Groves said.
And she's making a difference-- everything from helping a woman keep her electricity on when she was behind on payments to buying diapers for a vet who couldn’t afford to buy them for his child.
Groves is making sure that any veteran she comes across is taken care of.
"So far I have accomplished a lot. I've visited thirteen states and in the states that I visited, they're calling me back saying 'you know what, we decided to take better care of our veterans,'" Groves said.
The US Department of Veteran Affairs reported 23 percent of all homeless people here in the United States are vets.
Groves was released from the US Army in 1992 after being injured on duty. She was in the service for eight years, but feels she hasn’t stopped serving.
Groves is also the first African-American female to ever establish a Legion post and is hoping to inspire people to take better care of our veterans.
After completing her 48 states tour, she is planning to write a book about the veterans she has met throughout her journey.
“It’s not about me,” Groves said. “It’s about making sure people wake up and say, hey we’ll take better care of our veterans.”
Veteran’s Connection is her non-profit organization that aims to provide advocacy for veterans and their families.
To follow her progress and learn more about her organization, check out her Facebook page, Lisa Willis Groves.
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