(Lawrence Charles shares a laugh and a smile with Lisa Hastee/MVO Supervisor(right) and Laura Sue Normandin(back) Medical Support Assistant at the VA2K Walk &Roll)
Lawrence Charles says he used to be a homeless dope fiend a few years ago, but today he says he is a dopeless hope fiend.
Charles, who is originally from New Orleans, ended up in WNY after turning himself into the VA emergency room after realizing he needed help.
“I lost my wife in 2010 and I didn’t deal with grief well,” says Charles.
“I picked up the bottle first instead. I needed help and I was a very sick man and there was no cure for my disease.”
Charles ended up at Liberty Hall at the Batavia VA for 15 months.
“I gathered information, got myself together, it was a tough road because of drug addiction and homelessness. I didn’t want to admit that I was homeless, but when I went to the emergency room I said look, I have no place to stay, so they sent me to the Batavia VA.”
Charles says that while he was getting mentally and physically stronger at the Batavia VA Campus, he kept noticing a building being constructed.
“Everyday I kept passing this building, it was the Batavia Downs Hotel,” says Charles.
“I went in and gave them my resume and they hired me on the spot, now I am a supervisor at the hotel. So, I am here to tell everybody, especially people who are sick and homeless, that there is hope.”
Charles has been at Batavia Downs since October. Four months ago he moved into his own apartment on East Main street.
“I love being active, I love to talk. I landed in a good spot, I am a good communicator and I like to meet people. It worked out good for me because I am a natural, there is hope.”
Charles shared his story at the 7th annual VA2K Walk &Roll event Wednesday morning. The event not only encourages employees, veterans and the community to adopt an active lifestyle with a 1.24 mile walk, but also helps homeless and at risk veterans with donations such as clothing, socks, underwear, toothpaste, paper towels etc.
‘It is important to raise awareness for our homeless veterans and show our advocacy and to help some veterans that have had some struggles along the way, says Terence McGuire, Public Affairs Specialist at the VA WNY Healthcare System.
If anyone would like to donate items to homeless veterans they can stop by Building 4 and see Mark Francis at the Volunteer Services Dept. at 222 Richmond avenue/VA WNY Healthcare System.