Helping Our Own Veterans

Driving down Bayshore Blvd. you see a Diner that seems to be your run of the mill place to grab breakfast or lunch so you stop in and find that in fact it is much, MUCH more. If I had to describe it in one word I would say PATRIOTISM. When you walk in the first thing you see is our Country's Flag proudly displayed with pictures of our Veterans shadowing it. Everywhere you look there are tributes to our soldiers past and present. It inspires you to inquire more...and that's when it all unfolds.

Someone trying to make a difference. Holding fast to the appreciation of what so many men and women sacrificed for our country. As the owner of the establishment pointedly comments that "Freedom isn't Free". Customers and workers chime in bits and pieces obviously proud to be part of such a tribute. The bottom line here is one little diner and its customers have banned together to help our local veterans and homeless. This Tribute has now obviously taken on a life of its own. As you look around you see a box where you can put old cell phones to benefit our Veterans. You see boxes where you can donate food, clothes, books, etc. On the counter is an Honor Flight box. Everyone is eager to tell you as much as they can for their cause. For instance, for those of you, who like myself didn't know what Honor Flight is you can go to Honorflightsefl.org for more information; but to put it in a nutshell it is an effort to get our WWII veterans to see their Memorial in Washington all with airfare, meals and transportation paid. Another, organization they support is Adopt a Hero. That website is adoptahero.us.

Their in-house hospitatlity seems to know no boundaries and they spread the generosity as far as they can. If you were to come in for a meal before the holidays you would have found a stack of Christmas cards on each table to be signed for our soldiers who weren't fortunate enough to be home with their families for the holidays signed with well wishes of appreciation by the customers and workers alike. This past holiday's goal was to reach 1,000 soldiers which was 800 more than the year before. When I went in for breakfast in October I saw the cards on the tables...full, yes FULL of notes of appreciation for our soldiers. There is something in the atmosphere here that is contagious. At Christmas right before closing time, the boxes and baskets start to come out. The owner of the Diner, Dallas leads her "troops" to the stacks of boxes that hold turkeys and all the fixins' for Christmas dinner to be passed out to people in need. When asked how she does it she is quick to humbly state..."I wouldn't be able to do any of this without my customers, they deserve the credit".

This warm atmosphere rekindles your faith in people. That even though the recession has taken its toll on so many; people find a way to give of themselves for the less fortunate. Whether you donate an old jacket or cell phone, or put your change in a box, or volunteer some time, this little inconspicuous Diner gives you a place you can help within your means and feel better for it. When asking the owner what her next "project" was her response was "Bring it closer to home. "It's always good to help everyone but we have people right here in our county that need us and sometimes I have no choice but to send some of our donations to the Veterans Association in West Palm Beach because they are set up for it. I want to see US, set up for it. Us, being St. Lucie County. So far, I have met with the Mayor of Port St. Lucie and was very disappointed in her response and lack of willingness to even try and help. Next I plan on finding the right person at the V.A. to speak with that may be able to give me some guidance; and I currently have an appointment to get some advise to see if maybe I should set up a not-for-profit agency so we don't have to limit our efforts to just the Veterans. We have plenty of ideas, but lets just see where these lead us first. My customers have taught me that people want to help. We would like to afford them the opportunity within their means. Giving isn't about the money. It's about the human heart."

She obviously soars with passion on this mission and this writer looks forward to see what else generates from one woman's heart.

If you would like to help stop by or call Bayshore Diner, 742 Bayshore Blvd or (772)873-2000