Rain may have kept the traffic on Robert Rose Drive in Murfreesboro to a minimum on Saturday, but it did not stop veterans and volunteers from doing what they could to help the growing number of homeless veterans.
"Marine Corps has a saying, "Semper Fi Delis," which is always faithful. So if we're not faithful to our veterans, nobody else is going to be," said veteran and U.S. Military Motorcycle Club member, Mark Jolly.
Since 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day veterans traded the comfort of their homes for much meeker accommodations, sleeping in tents and trading shifts to gather donations, all of which will serve the local veteran community in Rutherford County.
"Probably about 200 homeless veterans here in Rutherford County and then statewide there's probably about 8,000," Rutherford County Veteran Service Officer Dominick Grimaldi said.
With more than 20,000 veterans throughout Rutherford County, Grimaldi has known many may struggle to ask for help.
"When we get out of the military we feel like we can do it all and we're going to do it all, and by the time we realize we need help we're in worse shape than your average citizen that would find themselves in that position," Grimaldi explained.
So when one veteran who was down on his luck approached the volunteers, no one hesitated to reach into the pile of donations and give a little to veterans in need.
"That's exactly why we're out here," said Grimaldi.
In its second year partnering with the Salvation Army and the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club, volunteers hoped the giving spirit would continue to help homeless veterans in the area.
"We're not here to do this to give veterans a hand out, we're here to give them a hand up," Grimaldi said.
Volunteers packed up around 6 p.m. Saturday. If you'd like to help or give a donation, contact the Rutherford County Veteran Service Office at 615-849-5711 or visit them online by clicking here.
