DILLON, SC (WBTW) – A group in Dillon is working to get veterans back on their feet during tough times.

Help for Vets Inc. met with veterans and residents at Main Street United Methodist Church Thursday afternoon.

“Our main focuses are to assist with housing, education, training, medical, mental health assistance and with jobs,” said Dillon Help for Vets Director David Guska.

The current goals of Help for Vets in Dillon are fluid.

Ideally, Help for Vets Director David Gruska says they want no homeless veterans on the streets.

“I’ve had relatives that were killed. I got relatives that earned bravery medals and so forth so I figured it was time for me to do something,” explained Gruska.

But perhaps, most importantly right now is a discussion about veteran homelessness.

“I came down to help these people out who has this vision of helping veterans and that’s what i’ve done since 1984,” said Kris Yourtellotte

Tourtellotte is the director of the Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center in Little River. He also helped build a center in New York.

During the meeting Thursday afternoon he mentioned three things to keep a group like this moving forward

“Transportation, more housing and getting the word out to what’s available,” said Tourtellotte.

The Help for Vets group wants to help veterans with everything from housing, to paying bills, to counseling.

Gruska says the group is in the process of securing a building to house veterans while they search for jobs.

One Vietnam veteran who attended the meeting says readjusting to society is a tough situation for many homeless veterans.

“I feel that it is really necessary that we do what we can as a community to help them out,” said Lloyd Brown.

“It’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of volunteer hours so it’s really important that i was able to give them some insight on all of the problems I went through trying to get mine going” said Tourtellotte.

Help for Vets Director David Gruska says the group is looking at several empty building spaces across Dillon. He says today is the first of many meetings to make the community aware of the group.

If you would like to get involved with Help for Vets or have any questions you can contact David Gruska (843)-774-0526