Last week, Valor Clinic Foundation gathered together many of its dedicated volunteers for an evening of fun, food and camaraderie as a way of thanking them for their hard work and dedication.

Valor, which turns 5 this week, relies extensively on its volunteers to carry out its mission to serve the area’s veteran and homeless population.Many people know that Valor runs Paul’s House. Paul’s House is the former Hotel Jonas in Polk Township. There are usually 24 veterans sheltered there.Valor also holds monthly stand downs where they go out into the community of feed and clothe the homeless. In 2016 Valor served about 1,700 people at its stand downs in Stroudsburg and Scranton. Of those served at stand downs, only about 30 percent are veterans.The group also supplies holiday meal boxes to around 85 veterans’ families on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas every year. Just this Christmas the group delivered 83 boxes and Christmas presents to each child in the household. The boxes were delivered as far north as Scranton, south to Philadelphia, into New Jersey and two boxes were delivered to Ohio.The volunteers also work to find and furnish apartments for homeless veterans. The foundation also placed 12 service dogs in November.According to foundation founder, Mark Baylis, the organization also has the best peer group for vets living with the aftereffects of service.“I myself knew that I just needed to walk away,” Baylis said. “I needed to find something different. You know some of these guys and gals, they just feel like that. They don’t have a sense of purpose — of direction.”Baylis said the peer group has been very successful in working on life plans and stress management techniques.“I really believe we have the best PTSD program in the country,” Baylis said.Baylis took the time to thank all of the volunteers who make the program work and presented a plaque to the “volunteer of the year.”“Sometimes you just can’t separate people from what they do, or who they do it with,” said Baylis. “That is why we actually have three people who are the volunteer of the year.”Mike Meining, Al Pearson and Mike Flannery were named as “Volunteer of the Year” for 2016.The three men are instrumental in all aspects of housing veterans in new apartments. The three help to fix up the apartments and find and move in the furnishings. Baylis said they have helped set up more than 100 apartments.Baylis also took a few minutes to thank house manager Michelle Goyette, board secretary Amy Boyette and “house mom” Sandy Spotts.If you know of anyone who needs assistance, please contact Valor Clinic Foundation at 570-664-6468.There were more than 65 volunteers present at the reception and many others were unable to attend.Valor Clinic Foundation is currently in the process of opening its second residence in Licking County, Ohio.