Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 29, 1990 TAG: 9005290310
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium
Since 1987, the Veterans Administration has run an outreach program for the estimated 5,000 homeless veterans in the Tidewater area, and Gray has helped head the program since it began. The project is one of 10 nationwide.
"I feel like what I'm doing is a mission," said Gray, a registered nurse with a master's degree in psychology. "We're really reaching out to these people. I think how easily it could happen to any one of us. I've always said, whatever I do, I'll only be happy if I can make a difference."
Gray, 55, makes 20 scheduled visits a month throughout Tidewater. On a typical day, she talks with as many as 20 people. Frequently it takes several contacts before she can persuade one to seek treatment.
One 28-year-old man who asked to be identified only by his first name, Anthony, is one of Gray's successes.
More than a year ago, she picked him up at a Portsmouth soup kitchen and took him to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton to be treated for depression and drug dependency. At the time, he was homeless, dirty and suicidal.
Now Anthony says he is going to college and working, is in touch with his family, and is helping to support his daughter.
"The first time I saw Ms. Gray, I didn't have anywhere to live," he said. "I was on drugs, in and out of jail. I wanted to kill myself. I was killing myself. Now, thanks to this lady I'm on the right track. It's still hard, but I'm not giving up."
Gray searches for veterans in soup kitchens, shelters, bus stations, plasma centers, libraries, under bridges and along railroad tracks. Her car is packed with used clothing and food collected from friends, neighbors, churches, service groups and civic clubs. She gives nearly every veteran she talks to a small bag of food.
"I ask them first if they have served in the military or worn a uniform," she said. "Many of them think that they must be retired from the service to be eligible for veterans' benefits. I tell them that I'm a nurse with the VA hospital, and that I might be able to help them.
"There aren't many rewards in a job like this," she said. "But seeing just one man turn his life around, regain his self-esteem, is reward enough."
by CNB