By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

After a handshake and a thank you from a fellow veteran, Joseph Pearson slung a duffle bag full of clothing over his shoulder and braced himself for a trip home in the cold.  

Pearson, a Navy veteran who served two tours in Iraq, found himself unprepared for frigid temperatures when he recently moved to Maine from Florida. A friend pointed him to Military Surplus for Homeless Veterans and Veterans in Need, a Sanford-based program that provides free warm clothing to veterans.

“This is going to help out tremendously,” said Pearson, who lives in Buxton. “They have everything you need. It’s a wonderful service. I’m very impressed.”

The program is the only one of its kind in the country and distributes clothing, boots, blankets and other items free of charge to any veteran who steps through the door. The program serves an average of 75 to 100 veterans each week and recently has seen a steady increase in veterans looking for supplies, said Dana Cotton, public affairs director. Volunteers rely largely on word of mouth to let veterans across the state and beyond know about the program. 

Billie Slaton, who previously worked as a homeless coordinator at the Veterans Administration, founded the program in 1994. Bundled up in a winter coat and mittens and holding a steaming cup of coffee, she greeted veterans last week as they entered the donated warehouse on Jagger Mill Road.

Slaton said the program would not be possible without veteran volunteers who unload shipments of surplus items, stock shelves and fill orders for veterans each Friday morning.

“The volunteers are just absolutely, totally great,” she said. 

The program receives military shipments valued between $500,000 and $800,000 at least four times each year, but also relies on support from community and military groups, Slaton said. Rolling Thunder  of Southern Maine and Biddeford American Legion Auxiliary donate socks and underwear. During the holidays, both groups also provide toys and clothes for veteran families in need. 

This week, Slaton will receive a new laptop from Saco Bay Rotary Club. 

As she walked through the warehouse, Slaton stopped to chat with volunteers as they unpacked boxes of heavy mittens and restocked shelves of boots. She said the hours spent stocking shelves and handing out clothes are worth it to help veterans who sacrificed so much for the country.

“The veterans are the heroes,” she said. 

Veterans who visit the program are asked to write their name and branch of service on a piece of paper. Many help themselves to a cup of coffee and snack while they wait for volunteers to fill orders.

Volunteers meet with each veteran to determine which items they need. Lists often include boots, duffle bags, wool blankets, gloves, scarves, sweatshirts, sweatpants, T-shirts, jackets, long underwear, socks, underwear and sleep shirts. Veterans receive one pair of boots each year and clothing about twice each year, Slaton said. 

Volunteer Terry Wright of Gorham, a 22-year veteran whose service included Desert Storm, said he sees each week the effect the program has on the community.

“I think it’s made an outstanding difference for the homeless veterans and the veterans in need,” he said. “The word has spread tremendously. Anything we can do to help each other is good.” 

Cotton said the program has grown big enough that veterans from other states also come for help. 

“Any veteran that comes in, we’ll take care of them,” he said. “We get it free and we give it away free. There’s no other place that does what we do.” 

Cotton said veterans not only receive good quality merchandise but an opportunity to support and connect with each other.

“It gives them a sense of camaraderie. They have the chance to come in and mix and mingle with fellow veterans. It can be kind of like a social thing because it gives them a chance to exchange stories,” he said. 

Herb “Wolf” Wolfinger of Lebanon has volunteered for the past two years because he wants to help people and believes in the program’s mission. 

‘The majority of the people really need it. It’s almost a lifesaver for a lot of people,” he said. “Their eyes light up. Some of the guys see stuff they haven’t seen in 50 years.” 

Cotton said he sees veterans of all ages, though it is increasingly rare to meet World War II veterans. 

“You get some guys from World War II,” he said. “The stories they tell us are incredible. It’s like living history.” 

Volunteer Bill Wadden of Sanford said as a single father with two sons serving in Afghanistan he understands what a big difference the program can make. He said more help is needed for veterans. 

“Where’s the help? There is no help. This is why it’s so important to us to help. This is our rehab, helping people,” he said. “It’s a pay-it-forward thing. What you do for someone else sooner or later will come back to you.”

Cotton agrees volunteers benefit as much from the program as the veterans they serve.

“I think they appreciate getting this stuff. It’s good therapy, not only for the group who comes in, but for the group that works here,” Cotton said. “We feel good because we know we’re helping them.”

Military Surplus for Homeless Veterans and Veterans in Need is open 9 a.m. to noon every Friday at 199 Jagger Mill Road in Sanford. For more information, call 459-4363.

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.