CLARK COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — A women's veteran's organization is in the home stretch toward opening their transitional home, but they need some help reaching their goals.
Phyllis Abbott's vision, Lady Veterans Connect, has come a long way in three years. Winchester's old Trapp Elementary School will serve as a transitional home for 32 female veterans. The facility is just months away from opening its doors. It is their biggest project to date and one of the biggest homes of its kind in the entire country.
"This will be for any woman veteran that is homeless, or on the verge of being homeless, and are willing to go through a transitional housing program," said Abbott.
The Trapp School will be a home to not only live in, but to learn life skills, and to tend to the veterans' mental and physical health. The need is great, according to the VA, female veterans are the fastest growing segment of the homeless veteran population.
"There are every few places for women veterans to go. In Kentucky, there are only five beds that are designated for women veterans," Abbott told LEX 18's Claire Crouch.
The goal is to open the Trapp School by the end of the year, but to do so, the all-donation funded project needs help. They also need volunteers to do work.
"They were very proud when they were in the military, they were making a difference, and now they don’t feel like they're making a difference and we want them to be able to make a difference again," said Abbott.
This weekend, they are having a yard sale at The Trapp School to bring in funds for a much needed HVAC System. The yard sale will be August 9 and 10 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Trapp School at 11400 Irvine Road in Winchester.
Lady Veterans Connect needs $80,000 for an HVAC Unit.
Volunteer Day will be on September 21 from 1- 5 p.m. at the Trapp School. Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves, ladders, and masks.
For more information, click here.
