Piedmont Veterans Assistance Council Inc (PVAC)

Piedmont Veterans Assistance Council has been working diligently on adapting and overcoming the COVID pandemic, as well as the heartbreaking loss of our leader, Korean War Purple Heart recipient, Sergeant Peter T. Meletis, USMC. Pete dedicated most of his life to helping Veterans.

In 2012, Pete organized a small group of volunteers and committed to helping struggling Veterans in Iredell County. Their goal was to offer access to free food and transportation. It soon became apparent that there were local homeless Veterans living in vehicles, under bridges, and in the woods. This was unacceptable and Pete made homeless Veterans a priority. Failure was not an option! 

In July of 2015, PVAC became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Our mission was to assist homeless and struggling Veterans in the Piedmont area of NC. By 2016, PVAC formed a collaboration with Iredell Statesville Community Enrichment Corporation and Fifth Street Ministries to create the first Veteran Transitional Housing program in our area. To date, there are over 70 Veterans who have successfully transitioned from being homeless to becoming self-sufficient in a home of their own. PVAC has donated over $130,000 to this program. 

Our Veteran Feeding Program continues to serve Veterans from Iredell and several surrounding counties. In 2022, PVAC provided hope and alleviated stress to over 1000 Veterans and widows of Veterans that struggled with food insecurities for themselves and their families. PVAC provides food, clothing and other basic necessities that help stretch their budget. Our volunteers are dedicated to the mission and do all the shopping, stocking, and distributing to those we serve. 

Throughout 2022, PVAC transported almost 100 Veterans to medical appointments at the VA and other medical facilities, going as far as Asheville. Our volunteer drivers drove over 6000 miles transporting Veterans and family members to medical appointments. Our committed volunteer drivers pick up our transports and stay on sight throughout the length of the appointment. PVAC drivers have been available to stop on the way to run errands and even to share a meal with these Veterans. Currently, our older, high mileage vehicles are not always the best choice for long-distance drives and our volunteers will use their own personal vehicles when those trips are scheduled. We routinely transport to Salisbury, Charlotte, and Winston-Salem. 

At one point, each American soldier wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including their life. Freedom is not free!! Our military personnel make great sacrifices for all Americans. These Veterans have families that make great sacrifices as well, especially those who grieve the loss of that Veteran. PVAC believes in sacrificing for our Veterans and their families. We have financially helped Veterans in need of car maintenance and repairs, gas to get to work, rent assistance and maintenance of their homes, and even funeral costs. We have been able to assist and connect Veterans that are losing hope and contemplating suicide with mental health facilities. We know of community resources that are available and have been able to connect Veterans to services outside of our abilities.  

Since 2021, PVAC has been strategically planning and strengthening the foundation of this organization. The development and continual growth, as well as the viability of this non-profit is an ongoing priority. The forward vision is to take action in assisting Veterans in need however we can. No soldier left behind! We are building a stronger organization and need the continued support of our community. 

PVAC would like to thank all our dedicated volunteers, generous donors, loyal supporters and all the Veteran organizations out there working for the good of our Veterans. 

PVAC provides assistance to homeless and struggling Veterans and their families in Iredell and surrounding counties in the Piedmont of North Carolina. We seek to achieve this goal by assisting with critical needs of Veterans and their families through provision of food, clothing and shelter; coordinating and providing transportation as needed to the VA or other health service providers; helping Veterans in accessing benefits available through the Veterans Administration (VA) and other Veteran organizations; financial support for Veterans through partnerships within the community; connecting Veterans with available short term and long term shelter options that will help transition homeless Veterans back to independent members of society.

Piedmont Veterans Assistance Council Inc (PVAC) is a Charity participating in the NASCAR Day Giveathon 2023 a Giving Day event, presented by The NASCAR Foundation.