In addition to monetary donations, Gold Coast Veterans Foundation is always in need of physical items for Ventura County veterans and their families. We have taken an important role to ensure the safety and well-being of our local veteran population, including unhoused and at-risk veterans, newly-housed veterans, disabled veterans, and very low-income veterans.
When we are contacted about a veteran or family member in one or more of the above groups, we learn about their needs that will help them get back on their feet. Some needs are specific to that veteran while other needs overlap from one veteran to the next.
We are now offering you, the donor, an opportunity to fulfill one or more of their needs to help rebuild and improve their lives, such as how generous community members were able to assist these local veterans.
Veteran Wish List Success Stories
Brian is an Army veteran who served from 2007-09. For much of his post-service time, he has served as the full-time caregiver for his friend, Brandy, who deals with frequent seizures resulting from an accident with a drunk driver. As a result of that ongoing medical care, they were living out of a vehicle with their dog, Scrappy.
Brian and Brandy were brought to the attention of our Mobile Veteran Outreach (MVO) team, who worked with other agencies to first shelter them in a hotel during COVID-19, and then a permanent apartment. However, during that time, Brian was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, which required a hospital stay and chemotherapy.
Once we knew their move-in date into their apartment, we worked quickly to connect with many generous community members to furnish their new apartment so they could focus on each other’s health. Brian is on the mend and continuing to receive treatments.
Byron is a Marine veteran. Byron receives constant care because of a progressive, genetic health condition that has severely reduced his mobility. As a result, Byron uses an electric wheelchair as his primary mode of transportation. However, due to its frequent use, the electric wheelchair began to come apart and was held together by duct tape. It no longer provided comfort and security for Byron.
Byron’s friend saw this electric wheelchair one day and contacted us to see if we had another electric wheelchair available. With the help of a generous community member and a local veteran-owned moving company, we not only provided Byron a gently-used electric wheelchair with brand-new batteries and wheelchair ramp, but peace of mind for he and his family, knowing that he will always be safe wherever he goes.
How Can I Grant a Veteran's Wish?
You can help grant the wishes of veterans and their families in your community. This process is very easy:
1. Click on the links below to view our Veteran Wish Lists and choose what item(s) you would like to donate to Ventura County veteran(s) in need:
- Wish Lists of veterans with medical needs
- Wish Lists of recently-housed veterans
- Ongoing Needs to anticipate the needs of both homeless veterans and recently-housed veterans
2. You may contribute by donating one or more the items (new or gently used is most preferred). If you have item(s) to donate, please give us a call at 805‑482‑6550 so we may assist with connecting the item(s) to the veteran(s) in need.
You can help ensure that we are Serving Those Who Served Us by your generous, tax-deductible contribution today. On behalf of our veterans and their families, thank you!
Thank You to Our Partners!
Thank you to Store Safe Self Storage in Camarillo and Go Mini’s in Simi Valley for your kind donation of storage units in 2021 and 2022! This additional and convenient storage space will allow us to fulfill more veterans’ wishes this year. We will be able to further effectively connect our generous community members to our veterans in need.
Veteran Wish Lists (As of January 26, 2023)
Giving Me Independence with Medical Equipment
I am an Army veteran. I am permanently disabled and living on a very fixed income.
I am scheduled to have knee surgery very soon. While I am recovering, I will need a way to get around my apartment complex and visit the nearby grocery store.
If you can allow me to continue to live more independently while I am recovering from my knee surgery, I would greatly appreciate it.
My Wish List:
- Four-wheeled electric mobility scooter
I am an Air Force veteran. I am permanently disabled and living on a very fixed income.
I serve as the primary caregiver for my permanently disabled son and help get him to essential appointments.
I have also helped fellow veterans in my community by delivering donated furniture to those who have found new housing
Unfortunately, my pickup truck was totaled in a collision with another vehicle, leaving me no way to help my son or my fellow veterans in need.
If you can allow me to provide greater quality of life for both my son and my fellow veterans, I would greatly appreciate it.
My Wish List:
- A reliable vehicle, which I am open to purchasing at a price I can afford
Furnishing My New Home and Reintegrating into Society
My wife and I are both Army veterans. We are permanently disabled and living on a very fixed income.
We are preparing to move into a new apartment so that I, as the primary caregiver for my wife, can provide her a greater level of support as her health declines. Because of the type of care that she will need, we have to make some changes to accommodate all of her medical equipment.
If you can allow me to provide greater quality of life for my wife and me, we would greatly appreciate it.
My Wish List:
- Loveseat sleeper sofa/sofa bed
I am an Army veteran. I am permanently disabled and living on a very fixed income.
I became homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic when I lost my job. I had been living out of my truck until I received help from the Mobile Veterans Outreach team. They helped me get into my apartment, and slowly, with their ongoing support, I am getting my life back on track.
This also includes making my apartment feel more like home. If you can allow me to have a greater quality of life, I would greatly appreciate it.
My Wish List:
- Small dining table with chairs
I am an Army veteran. I am permanently disabled and living on a very fixed income.
A bed was provided to me when I first moved into my apartment. Unfortunately, part of the frame broke, and I can feel the springs from the mattress. It has made it much more difficult for me to sleep.
If you can allow me to have a greater quality of life by providing me a more restful nights’ sleep, I would greatly appreciate it.
My Wish List:
King-size bed (frame, mattress, and box spring)FULFILLED!Tall drinking glassesFULFILLED!- Lightweight, bagless vacuum cleaner
Ongoing Needs
Medical Equipment
Mobility is often taken for granted. However, for those who are unable to walk without assistance, medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and electric scooters are invaluable. Such equipment gives our local veterans a sense of independence they otherwise would not have.
- Manual wheelchairs
- Lightweight, transport chairs
- Seated rollator walkers
- Folding aluminum walkers
- Upright walkers
- Walking canes
- Electric mobility scooters
- Electric power wheelchairs
- Batteries to power electric mobility scooters and power wheelchairs
- Wheelchair access ramps
- Wheelchair platform lifts
- Power lift recliners
- Stairlift chair systems
- Hospital beds
- Hoyer lifts
- Medical trapeze bars
- Shower chairs
- Bedside commodes
- Toilet seat rails
- Toilet seat risers
Furnishing Veterans' Homes
Mobility is often taken for granted. However, for those who are unable to walk without assistance, medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and electric scooters are invaluable. Such equipment gives our local veterans a sense of independence they otherwise would not have.
The furnishings and decorations that make a house a home define and ground the family living in that home. When a veteran and family transition into an empty house, they have been homeless for so many years that they do not realize what items they need to make their new house a home. Such items give our local veterans what they need to get back on their feet and feel a sense of community.
1/6/2022 UPDATE: At this time, due to limited storage space, we are accepting furniture for donation – if the furniture is on our existing Veteran Wish List requests above. Please continue to check back for updates, as we plan to resume furniture donations in greater quantity in the near future.
We primarily help furnish studio and one-bedroom apartments. Please keep that in mind if you wish to donate any of the following items listed below.
Bedroom
- Beds (mattress, box spring, and/or frame) – twin, full, or queen only
- Bed sheet sets
- Pillows
- Dressers/chests of drawers
- Nightstands
Living Room
- Sofas/loveseats
- Recliners
- Small desks
- Office chairs
- Coffee tables
- End tables
Kitchen
- Refrigerators
- Dining tables with chairs
- Microwaves
- Toasters
- Coffee makers
- Other countertop appliances
- Dishes
- Silverware
- Kitchen utensils
- Drinking cups
Bathroom
- Bath towels
- Washcloths
- Non-slip bath mats
Emergency Funds and Daily Essentials
A number of the veterans we serve, especially with our Mobile Veteran Outreach (MVO) program, fall into one of the following categories:
- Unhoused veterans
- Veterans at risk of becoming unhoused
- Newly-housed veterans
All are either living off a fixed source of income or no source of income at all. Because of this limited income, they do not have an adequate food supply, reasonable change of clothes, personal care products for their overall health, and gasoline for their cars to get to their jobs and medical appointments.
- Hotel vouchers
- Gas cards
- Perishable and non-perishable food items
- Toiletries
- Prepaid gift cards
- Grocery store gift cards
- Chain store gift cards
- Restaurant gift cards
- Bus passes
