November 11-13th, 2022
This will be our 9th annual Operation Vanguard. Last year your generosity aided over 100 Homeless Veterans and their families as well as aiding over 100 at risk Veterans in need.
What is Operation VanguarD?
Operation Vanguard is an annual event with two goals:
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Raise the funds needed for our Veterans Services team to continue their support of service members in our community, especially those that are homeless or with other risk factors.
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Raise awareness for our community members by exposing them to the plight of the homeless, giving them a small glimpse of what it means to be without shelter and food.
How it Works
Every November, for 3 days, we gather in our community to raise awareness of the complexity and frequency of Veteran homelessness in Vigo County as well as surrounding areas. We begin our weekend-long event by participating in the Veteran's Day Parade, and then host an Opening Ceremony that is also the official opening of the Operation Vanguard camp, which is where our Homelessness Challenge takes place.
Throughout the weekend of Operation Vanguard you will see our staff and community participants camping outside of our main offices, collecting donations on street corners, and holding signs with facts about Veteran homelessness.
We are seeking volunteers, sponsors, and individual fundraisers to make this event successful. If you would like to come out and take this challenge with us for one day or three; please do!
Scroll down for all of the details you need to get involved with Operation Vanguard!
GET INVOLVED
Vanguard Photos
Thank you to our Vanguard 2022 sponsors!
Elanco Animal Health
Clinton, Indiana
American Legion & American Legion Auxiliary Posts 172
Jasonville, Indiana
Schedule of events
Friday, November 11, 2022
10:00am -- Veteran's Day Parade, Downtown Terre Haute
Join the Reach Veterans Services team as they walk in the parade! We will line up on 4th street behind Grand Traverse Pie Company at 8:00am.
2:00pm -- Vanguard Opening Ceremonies, Veteran's Village at 23rd & Maple Avenues
Join us at the future site of Veteran's Village, a tiny home project for homeless Veterans. We will not only hold opening ceremonies for Operation Vanguard, but THAAR will have a groundbreaking ceremony for Veteran's Village, too! Join the Mayor, event sponsors, our staff, the media and others for the official kick-off for Operation Vanguard 2022.
5:00pm -- Operation Vanguard camp opens for donations and homelessness challenge, 1400 Hulman
The donations received from our community during Vanguard each year are vital to helping us expand our services to Veterans in the Wabash Valley. From the time camp opens on Friday and until it closes on Sunday, you will see volunteers holding signs and donation buckets for monetary donations, and you will see our staff and community members camping out 24 hours to experience just a taste of what homeless Veterans go through daily. You can also stop by the camp to donate other items like food, hygiene items, or clothing.
Saturday, November 12, 2022
10:00am - Homeless Awareness Walk
Join our staff, volunteers, and the Homeless Council of the Wabash Valley as we walk from our offices at 1400 Hulman to Pathways at 504 S. 15th Street, and then back.
ALL DAY -- Donations collected and homelessness challenge continues, 1400 Hulman
Not only are community members camping out Friday night and collecting donations, but it will continue for all of Saturday and Saturday night, too.
Sunday, November 13, 2022
NOON -- Operation Vanguard ends and camp breaks, 1400 Hulman
The last chance to drop off donations or volunteer for this event is Sunday morning. At Noon this day Operation Vanguard ends, and we begin the work of totaling the community donations that will help support our outreach through the next year.
Sponsorship
We invite businesses, organizations, and individuals to consider becoming a sponsor of the 2022 Operation Vanguard event. No Veteran should be without a home, and it is our goal to ensure that no Veteran in the Wabash Valley goes without one.
Please download the 2-page document on this page for details about sponsorship levels, sponsor recognition, and why your sponsorship of this event is so important.
For more information you can call us at 812 232 6305 or email at jburk@reachservices.care.
PEER-TO-PEER FUNDRAISING
Please help us raise funds by finding those in your networks willing to pledge to the cause. We ask that each individual fundraiser set their goal at $200 in pledges. You can turn in your collected pledges anytime during Operation Vanguard, or afterward at our main offices.
To challenge you on a personal level, we encourage you to consider not only collecting pledges, but also committing to full participation in our Homelessness Challenge if you do not meet your pledge goal. That means - miss your pledge goal, and commit to staying overnight at the Operation Vanguard camp.
Download the Pledge Form today and see how you can challenge yourself!
VOLUNTEER
We need many volunteers to make each year's Operation Vanguard a success. You can help out for a few hours, or join us overnight for the full Operation Vanguard camp experience. To join the volunteer crew for this year's event, fill out the form at the bottom of this page with a brief description of how you would like to help.
Some volunteer opportunities:
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Help collect donations at the Operation Vanguard camp or at the Veteran's Village tiny home site (2-4 hour shifts)
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Hold signs near the Operation Vanguard camp or at the Veteran's Village tiny home site (2-4 hour shifts)
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Hold donation buckets near the Operation Vanguard camp or at the Veteran's Village tiny home site (2-4 hour shifts)
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Provide meals and/or snacks and drinks for those participating in the Homelessness Challenge
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Help set up before the event and/or help clean up after the event
DONATE
We are asking for donations from our community. Every penny counts when it goes towards those in need. During Operation Vanguard, we will be accepting non-perishable food items, hygiene items, and monetary donations. We accept cash, check, and card.
If you live far away, or are unable to attend the event or help as a personal fundraiser, you can donate directly to Reach Veterans Services using the Paypal donation button on this page. Alternatively, you can also mail your donation to Operation Vanguard, C/o Reach Services, 1400 Hulman St., Terre Haute, IN 47802.
Our goal this year is $40,000!
Sponsorship Info
Pledge Form
Adult Waiver
Minor Waiver
contact us
Use this form for questions or to volunteer for Operation Vanguard!