Owners aim to support former military

Vietnam War veteran Joseph Boatman defines himself as a caretaker, which is why the former Navy Combat Corpsman opened Veterans Connection Thrift Store in Round Rock last year.

Joseph retired from his job as a safety consultant in 1998 and has been serving as vice president of the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans. TAVV and the city of Austin started providing veterans in need with apartments through the No Longer Homeless program. However, the apartments had no furnishing.

"They were still sleeping on the floor," Joseph said. "They had nothing."

TAVV started cooperating with the Veterans Administration to furnish the apartments through donations.

"But we found that many items being donated, veterans couldn't use, like a piano," Joseph said.

Joseph and his daughter Jenna Boatman started looking for a store where they could sell these donated items and use that money to fund the No Longer Homeless program.

Jenna, the store's manager, said they walked into a thrift store and the owner asked them if they wanted to buy it.

"That's how we ended up with a thrift store — literally overnight," Jenna said.

Jenna said she quit her previous job to run the store.

People can support the store's cause by donating goods and shopping there. Almost anything can be donated, Jenna said. But as winter approaches, warm clothing is needed. Small kitchen appliances and toys are also popular,

Jenna said.

The store provides veterans with goods, information and connections, Joseph said.

"If they need counseling, we can connect them with the right agencies," Jenna said. "We help them go through all the information and work within the system."

But not many ask for help, Joseph said.

"Especially the younger ones don't want to ask for anything," Joseph said. "They are almost afraid of being

turned down."

He encourages all veterans to come into his store and reach out for support.

"Our veterans gave an awful lot for us," he said. "When they ask for help, we need to be there for them."

Joseph said he strives to keep supporting the No Longer Homeless program with his store.

"This has been a lot of work, but we have a lot of fun, too," Joseph said. "It's a heartwarming business. Hopefully, our customers feel that, too."

Duffle Bag Sunday

Second Sunday of each month, 1–4 p.m.

The store donates items such as pillows, comforters, bed sheets or small kitchen appliances to the American Legion. On Duffle Bag Sundays many useful products are piled to the ceiling in a separate room of the shop. Veterans can choose among these items and take what they need for free. All they need to bring is their veterans card or military identification.

Volunteers needed

The biggest problem for the store is the need of a truck to pick up furniture, Veterans Connection owner Joseph Boatman said.

"We miss a lot of donations because we don't have a truck. We are in desperate need of a pickup or a small box truck."

Also, the coordination of pickups and deliveries can be difficult at times, he said. Therefore, volunteers who could help with pickups and deliveries would be appreciated, he said.

Most needed donations

• Warm cloth


• Comforters


• Sheets


• Toys


• Books


• Small kitchen appliances


• Silverware


• Curtains


• Furniture


• Any kind of household goods

1601 S. I-35, Ste. 330, Round Rock, 512-218-1372, Hours: Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.