FORT MYERS
Donald Payton is a Vietnam Veteran and now he serves soldiers in need right here in Southwest Florida.
Payton founded a charity that helps people get off the streets and back on their feet. He knows that some don’t have a place to call home and that items like shaving cream and soap are luxuries.
He knows this well because he himself has been homeless.
“Because there are a lot of veterans out there and I was unfortunately homeless and didn’t really know where to turn, and then Don started this,” Payton said.
“Hearts and Homes for Veterans” is the name of his non-profit charity, and it started with the inspiration he received after watching soldiers struggle to readapt to civilian life.
“I said something has to be done, somebody has to do something, for them to really care, so we’re trying to give them a push,” Payton said.
It all started with Payton handing out items from the back of his truck and turned into many hands helping his non-profit organization provide veterans with transportation, toiletries and furniture.
“It’s a good thing when you finally see them come into the house, we just had a family with 5 kids and we put them in a house and all the kids were coming in and screaming, we got a bed, we got a bed,” Payton said. .
Payton says her next step is to add counseling services to help veterans in need.
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