Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois got a significant boost in its fundraising for the expansion of a veteran’s home today.
CEFCU wrote a $50,000 check to go toward the General Wayne A. Downing Home for Veterans that’s expected to cost $550,000.
CEO Patty Fuchs says the five-bedroom facility is a transitional housing unit that also offers transportation, meals and clothing for veterans seeking employment.
“We are helping them to grow to be independent," Fuchs said. "So once they get that job and can budget to pay for the things we’ve just helped them with, you can imagine what that does to someone’s esteem.”
The Central Illinois Goodwill chapter launched a its capital campaign last May to add five additional bedrooms to the all-male facility.
Fuchs says the need for transitional housing in the area continues to rise.
“The Peoria area and most communities do not fulfill the need for housing for homeless,” Fuchs said.
The Central Illinois board anticipates the groundbreaking for the expansion project should take place next spring.
The initial project was originally supported by a Housing and Urban Development matching grant. Fuchs says that federal money has since run out. The capital campaign for the Veterans Home has raised nearly $300,000 so far -- that includes CEFCU's donation.