Veterans Resource Center Expands, Creates More Community Partners

ST. CLOUD -- A St. Cloud-based resource center is paving the way for veterans to be successful as they come back to civilian life.

The HomeFront Resource Center, which is housed in the Heartland Building on the St. Cloud Technical and Community College campus, was created over three years ago. Since it got its start, the organization has made it its mission to help provide veterans, active service members and their families, information and resources.

Tarryl Clark is the Board Chair for the HomeFront Resource Center. She says sometimes it's hard for veterans to find specific services they need as they're continuing their education or readjusting to life outside the military.

"We speak up for veterans and their families, we educate the public and we connect people who are looking for services. This is not about duplicating, this is how we are actually helping people get to the services they are needing in a more efficient way."

The organization depends on its partners to help provide different resources.  Clark says the HomeFront Resource Center has been able to bring the veterans community together through those partnerships.

"We are an all-volunteer organization at this point. What we really count on is those partnerships whether it is with the American Legion, Goodwill Easter Seals, the VA Medical Center, the college or others it really is about leveraging what people and organizations are already doing."

Looking back to 2014 and moving forward to the future, Clark says she's proud of where the organization started and how much it has grown over the years.

"I feel really good about the difference we've made but this is something that does take the whole community. We want to make sure we are serving those who have served us."

To help the HomeFront Resource Center continue to provide resources to veterans, the Tee It Up for the Troops foundation gave the organization a $10,000 grant Tuesday. Clark says the funds will help them provide services for more veterans in the area.

"$10,000 may not sound like a lot to some people but it's a lot for us. It means we're going to be able to help expand the connection of the people who are providing services."

Tee It Up for the Troops has donated more than seven million dollars to veteran service organizations since 2005.