MEMBERS of the Veterans National Staff Organization (ONE) were joined by Minister of Defense Simon Coveney and Chief of the Defense Forces Lt. Gen. Seán Clancy at the Hotel de city yesterday to launch the charity’s annual Fuchsia Appeal.
The fundraising campaign, which will continue throughout September and will involve several events across the country, will see members and volunteers selling symbolic fuchsia emblems to raise much needed funds for Irish Defense Force veterans.
ONE provides housing and support to homeless veterans across Ireland, with the ultimate aim of helping former staff members access permanent accommodation.
The organization also has a professional counseling service to support the mental health of struggling veterans.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, Jacqui McCrum, was also present at the launch of the Fuchsia 2022 appeal in Cork yesterday.
“Veterans have volunteered to join the Defense Forces, no one has volunteered to be a homeless veteran,” ONE CEO Cormac Kirwan said, speaking ahead of the launch. Fuchsia call 2022.
ONE is currently developing another house in Cork City at the top of St Luke’s, to expand its homeless accommodation to 57 rooms nationwide.
In addition to providing accommodation, the organization has a network of 15 Veterans Support Centers and 38 branches, where veterans are assisted in their search for housing, mental health support, counseling by peers, addiction services and employment opportunities.
The charity has an annual operating budget of approximately €1.1 million for ongoing services, plus additional expenses based on ongoing capital projects.
The organization says that while it is grateful for the state funding it receives, there is “a significant gap that needs to be filled by the charity to support its vital services”.
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