The Chronicle-based charity LOV (Love Our Veterans) Thrift Store celebrated providing assistance to 200 veterans on August 28th.
The 501c3 non-profit, based at the intersection of NC-16 and NC-150 in Chronicle, is dedicated to providing various types of assistance to veterans in need.
“Although having helped over 200 veterans in 4 years of operation thanks to this community is a major milestone, at our current pace we’ll double that in a year,” said Gini Popko, co-founder and store manager of LOV.
When LOV was founded in July of 2022, the organization’s original goal was to help only one veteran per month. Had they continued at that rate, the organization would have helped roughly fifty veterans at the time of publication.
LOV’s primary source of funding is their thrift store, a 8,500 square foot building that sells everything from clothes and shoes to books and nicknacks to tools and electronic devices.
The store’s inventory is made up almost entirely of items donated by locals. Direct monetary donations are also accepted.
“Many of our local sister veterans charities are experiencing a funding freeze and referring their veterans-in-need to us,” Gini Popko said. “In order to keep up, monetary donations would be helpful, and 100% of monetary donations go directly to assisting our local veterans.”
LOV has assisted veterans in finding housing, acquiring vehicles, paying for mortgage and rent expenses, paying for funeral expenses, finding other veterans resources, and more.