A group of volunteers with VETS Canada set out in St. John’s on Saturday as part of the nation-wide 2018 Tour of Duty — Boots on the Ground walk to raise awareness about veteran homelessness, and to locate and help veterans in need.

Minister of Veterans Affairs Seamus O’Regan met with volunteers before they set out on their walk to discuss what the federal government is doing to help veterans who are homeless or in distress.

VETS Canada volunteer Mark Gauci organized the St. John’s Boots on the Ground walk. There were 21 walks in cities across Canada on Saturday.

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It’s estimated there are more than 2,200 veterans in Canada who are homeless.

Last year alone, an organization called Veterans Emergency Transition Services (VETS Canada) helped 65 veterans in this province who were either homeless, at risk, or in distress.

On Saturday, as part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness and reach out to veterans in need of assistance, VETS Canada volunteers in St. John’s participated in their third annual Tour of Duty.

“We’re trying to get the word out that we’re here,” said Mark Gauci, a veteran and volunteer with VETS Canada in St. John’s.

“The thing about Newfoundland is we have some of the highest rates of enrollment in the Forces, so you don’t have to throw a rock very hard to hit somebody that doesn’t know a veteran. We’re just trying to let people know that if they have a veteran that is in trouble, they don’t necessarily have to be homeless, but if they’re experiencing any type of financial difficulties or even if they (need help) accessing services … we’re here 24/7.”

VETS Canada is a national charity started in 2010 which provides aid to homeless and at risk veterans.

It started in 2010 in Halifax when veteran Jim Lowther volunteered at a Sunday supper and met three fellow veterans who were homeless. He figured if there were three in that one room, there must be others in need of help.

Lowther and his wife, Debbie, founded VETS Canada shortly after and they were soon contracted to do the work by Veterans Affairs Canada.

“We provide the eyes and ears on ground,” said Gauci. “And provide interim support and then connect them with the right people at Veterans Affairs.”

On Saturday, a group of about 15 volunteers met at the Sheraton Hotel and walked down Duckworth Street and Water Street speaking with people and letting them know they were there to help if people knew anyone in need.

They also distributed Subway gift cards to anyone who needed a meal.

“The big thing is if they do have a veteran that’s in trouble, they can know that there are people out there to help them,” said Gauci.

He said the group is seeking volunteers across the province because right now many of the volunteers are in St. John’s.

Tanya Fizzard is a veteran who now works as a veterans’ service agent, and she volunteered with VETS Canada at Saturday’s Tour of Duty.

“The goal is to try to get some people either off the streets or get them that bit of food that they need, or try to get them into some programs with Veterans Affairs if they’re not already in.

“There’s such a gamut of resources that are available through Veterans Affairs that quite often people just don’t know what they’re eligible for, they don’t have the resources to get online and look this stuff up, or they’re just too unhealthy or unwell to do so.

“We try to do our best to identify them and get them services that they’re entitled to.”

Minister of Veterans Affairs Seamus O’Regan saw the group of volunteers off on their walk Saturday.

He also gave an update on what the federal government is doing to try and improve services for veterans.

“The goal is simple — just get rid of it. There should never be a veteran that’s homeless in Canada.”

“There are people who’ve fallen between the cracks, so we’ve got to make sure that, now that we’ve got Pension for Life on track, the other thing we’ve got to do is as people leave the military, it should be seamless…we train the best soldiers in the world, now we’ve got to train them to be veterans, and it’s tough — it’s a difficult transition for a lot of people.”

O’Regan said one change involved opening up Military Family Resource Centres to veterans in addition to active members – a simple change that’s had a positive impact.

Government also recently had a national workshop on veteran homelessness with 70 groups from across the country participating to work together to tackle the issue.

“We can do it,” said O’Regan. “I think we’ve got the tools that we can do it, but we’ll do it together, a whole bunch of groups together.”

Anyone interested in volunteering with VETS Canada can sign up at www.vetscanada.org.

Twitter: @juanitamercer_