Organizations focus on veterans year-round

After facing many challenges, one special veteran has a new set of wheels, thanks to two organizations: Cars4Heroes and Welcome Home.

Welcome Home is a local organization serving veterans in the Columbia area, who helped a deserving veteran, Brian McGill, drive home in his new car.

Brian McGill told ABC 17 News that humbling himself to get help was the first step.

The Department of Veterans Affairs reported veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered more trauma than veterans of any other war.

There are more than 600 homeless veterans in the state of Missouri, which is why organizations such as Welcome Home moved from their previous facility into a larger one to help those in need.

Executive director Timothy Rich said providing services and resources that veterans need is key.

“I’m very excited to be part of celebrating veterans today and that’s part of what Welcome Home is all about,” Rich said. “It’s about honoring veterans, but also restoring their lives.”

George Miller, an organization member present at the giveaway, said — anyone can help veterans. If you have a skill, he said, putting it to use would go a long way.