"I just hope I make a difference:" Oak Creek lends a helping hand to homeless veterans

OAK CREEK (WITI) -- They're cans and boxes of food many take for granted in their cupboards at home.

Now one young lady is asking you to open your cupboards and your heart and donate to a worthy cause.

"The veterans mean so much to me and I just hope I make a difference in their lives," said 19-year-old Carissa Cichacki.

After learning about the dramatic number of homeless veterans, Cichacki decided to something about it.

"They told me we're lining up a food drive for you, this is the day that it is. The timing couldn't have been better because we're trying to get our food pantry stocked up. The help that we're receiving here is just going to be phenomenal," said Jeff Gustin of Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin.

Cichacki and her friends are holding a donation drive at the Oak Creek Fire Department to benefit Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin.

Not only does this organization provide food for veterans, it also gives them home furnishings.

"When a veteran gets housing they're usually coming out of a transitional house or a homeless shelter and they walk in with a backpack and they have no furniture, so kitchen utensils, no bathroom supplies or anything," said Gustin.

An act of kindness that says thank you to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for us.

"I value my freedom and I know why I have it and I'm going to help the guys that helped to secure my freedom anyway that I can," said Gustin.

There are four drop-off locations accepting non-perishable food and household furnishings now through Sunday.

Those locations include...

On Sunday, there will be a large donation drive at the Oak Creek Fire Department Station #3 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

For more information on Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin, CLICK HERE.