Someone You Should Know: Staff At Veterans Café And Grill
(CBS) – The Veterans Café and Grill is a new project to help former service people in the Merrillville, Ind. area.
It provides food and even jobs. CBS 2's Harry Porterfield says the workers there and the clients are all someone you should know.
Homeless veterans have another ally in their quest for housing: the Veterans Café and Grill. A share of the restaurant earnings are being donated to their cause.
Bessie Hitchcock, operations director of Veterans Life Changing Service in Gary, Ind., came up with the idea. She has 30 years' experience in catering, and some veterans at transitional housing have culinary experience.
"The idea was to actually give veterans that are having a hard time finding a job an opportunity stabilize themselves," Hitchcock says.
One of the thoughts behind the enterprise is to provide veterans an opportunity to learn how a restaurant operates. Five veterans are currently employed here.
One of them is Terrell Junigan, a business student at IU Northwest.
"I enjoy working here. It's family-oriented. We work together as a team," he says.
The restaurant opened in May. Already, it's being supported by area veterans who enjoy each other's company.
The café is open Monday through Thursday for dinner; and Friday through Sunday for breakfast. It's at 7805 Taft Street in Merrillville. Click here for information.