Saturday, January 23, 2021
Subscriber Login
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Community
    • Covid-19 Updates
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber LogIn
    • Join us – Subscribe Today
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Community
    • Covid-19 Updates
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber LogIn
    • Join us – Subscribe Today
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Community

Concert to benefit Veterans Miracle Center

Michael Hallisey by Michael Hallisey
October 13, 2017
in Community, Music, News, The Spot
0
Concert to benefit Veterans Miracle Center
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ALBANY — Melody stands with Oscar in front of a rack of pants and belts inside the Veterans Miracle Center’s storefront.

Melody is Melody Burns, VMC operations director, and Oscar is one of the more than 5,000 U.S. veterans she and her staff have helped since the center opened three years ago.

The VMC center knows every veteran the staff has helped, along with every item taken from its storefront. Each transaction is recorded; every soldier has a file. Burns said it’s what helps the not for profit anticipate demand. For every Oscar, there is a file that includes what he takes home, including the waist size of each pair of pants. For when he returns, if he returns, the center knows to have a few pairs of size 28 pants in stock.

There are approximately 50 people who volunteer at the VMC center. That doesn’t include the tight network of schools, shelters and service recruiters who will funnel veterans to the center from as far away as New Jersey and Plattsburgh. “We don’t like to have people work alongside of us until they see what we do,” said Jim Pratt, the general manager of the VMC center. “They see what we do, and it really sets the stage going forward.”

A few feet away from the ball caps and t-shirts representing each branch of the U.S. armed forces is a display of diapers, bottles and baby wipes. Not everyone the center helps is a veteran. The spouses of soldiers deployed overseas are eligible for help. With boxes of diapers priced as high as $40 each, they need it.

The center knows who its helped, and how many, but Burns said it’s impossible to know who among upstate New York’s veterans are not receiving the help they need. The center’s warehouse is tucked a quarter-mile off Albany’s Central Avenue, on a meandering Interstate Avenue. Outside of a modest sign affixed upon the building’s brick facade, a motorist could drive by it.

The signage isn’t at fault. Men and women trained to survive and perform outside the convenient confines of an urban environment, can often be unwilling to admit the need for help.

“It’s difficult, because a lot of them are very proud,” said Burns. “They don’t want to ask for help.” Burns has seen so many different scenarios from those vets who come through the door. The soldier who returns home to a wife and kid who’s surprised by divorce papers. The career serviceman whose food, clothing and shelter was all provided for during his entire adult life.  “Some of them are so overwhelmed, they don’t know what they’re going to need. We do.”

Gary Weinlein is a paramour of music, especially that of the rock and roll that defined the 60s and 70s. He “blames” his older brother Gregg. Tongue in cheek, he also describes being “dragged” to shows at the Aerodrome, University at Albany and Saratoga Performing Arts Center to see The Doors, Jefferson Airplane and more. Today, Gary brings those shows back to life. Each year, he brings his Groovin’ shows to the Capital District, showcasing local musicians acting and singing like Jim Morrison and Grace Slick for audiences. He digs it, too.

From the Albany State gym, “I sat five feet away from these people,” said Weinlein. “It was very influential on my music appreciation, and I can’t seem to break loose from it.”

Each year, proceeds from Weinlein’s Groovin’ shows goes to a different cause. Each of those causes share a common thread; to honor U.S. war veterans. Proceeds from the Groovin’: Ghostly Legends and Friends at the Palace Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 28 goes to the VMC center.

“A lot of people who I know that are veterans utilize what the Veterans Miracle Center gives,” said Weinlein. “And, for the veteran in need, to have at no cost necessities for living, whether they’re in bad health or down and out at the time being… the Veteran’s Center provides a gauntlet of products.

With the amount Weinlein anticipates to earn through this month’s show, Burns measures the impact through the number of beds. Quote on need for beds. Burns said the show “could put 50 vets into a bed.”

For more information on the VMC center, visit www.vmcalbany.org. For tickets and information about the upcoming Groovin’ concert, visit ticketmaster.com or call the Palace Box Office at (518) 465-4663.

Tags: Groovin'Melody BurnsVeterans Miracle Center
Previous Post

SPOTTED: Shaker beats crosstown rival Colonie, 4-2

Next Post

LETTER to the EDITOR: Friends Helping Friends

Next Post
Letter to the editor: Bethlehem Grange #137 is in great need

LETTER to the EDITOR: Friends Helping Friends

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

  • 7k Fans
  • 4.6k Fans
  • 607 Fans
  • 357 Subscribers

Recent News

SPOTTED: Colonie boys roll past Burnt Hills on Senior Day

SPOTTED: Colonie boys roll past Burnt Hills on Senior Day

January 23, 2021
SPOTTED: Colonie girls bowling team loses nail biter to Schenectady

SPOTTED: Colonie girls bowling team loses nail biter to Schenectady

January 23, 2021
Albany man seen at BLM and Back the Blue protests arrested on weapon charges

Albany man seen at BLM and Back the Blue protests arrested on weapon charges

January 22, 2021
Albany County breaks hospitalization record; three more deaths

January on track to being the deadliest month in Albany County

January 22, 2021

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
POLL: 75 percent plan to get vaccinated; nearly half say Sen. Schumer will have a positive impact as majority leader

POLL: 75 percent plan to get vaccinated; nearly half say Sen. Schumer will have a positive impact as majority leader

January 20, 2021
Moriah Formica debuts new all-female band, Plush

Moriah Formica debuts new all-female band, Plush

January 22, 2021
Demolition of Tobin’s First Prize to start soon

Demolition of Tobin’s First Prize to start soon

January 21, 2021
Pair arrested after luring man to Colonie hotel and robbing him, allegedly

Pair arrested after luring man to Colonie hotel and robbing him, allegedly

January 18, 2021
SPOTTED: Colonie boys roll past Burnt Hills on Senior Day

SPOTTED: Colonie boys roll past Burnt Hills on Senior Day

January 23, 2021
SPOTTED: Colonie girls bowling team loses nail biter to Schenectady

SPOTTED: Colonie girls bowling team loses nail biter to Schenectady

January 23, 2021
Albany man seen at BLM and Back the Blue protests arrested on weapon charges

Albany man seen at BLM and Back the Blue protests arrested on weapon charges

January 22, 2021
Albany County breaks hospitalization record; three more deaths

January on track to being the deadliest month in Albany County

January 22, 2021
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Subscribe
  • Log In
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949