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, 2022 and 2023! 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 February 16, 2024)
Giving Me Independence with Medical Equipment
I am an Army veteran. I am a disabled veteran who is living on a very fixed income. I will soon be going in for surgery on my knees, which although will reduce the pain I feel daily, will also limit my ability to walk.
If you can allow me to have a greater quality of life by allowing me to regain my independence post-surgery, I would greatly appreciate it.
My Wish List:
- Four-wheeled mobility scooter
I am a Navy veteran. I am a disabled veteran who is living on a very fixed income.
My chronic health issues make it difficult to walk very far.
If you can allow me to have a greater quality of life by allowing me to regain my independence, I would greatly appreciate it.
My Wish List:
- Four-wheeled mobility scooter
I am a Navy veteran. I am a disabled veteran who is living on a very fixed income.
I have arthritic knees, which makes it difficult to walk very far, even to get to the nearby grocery store.
If you can allow me to have a greater quality of life by allowing me to regain my independence, I would greatly appreciate it.
My Wish List:
- Four-wheeled mobility scooter
I am an Army veteran. I am a disabled veteran who is living on a very fixed income. I receive caregiving assistance much of the time due to my chronic health conditions.
As a result, I am not able to walk very far, even to go to the local store to get my groceries.
If you can allow me to have a greater quality of life by allowing me to regain my independence, I would greatly appreciate it.
My Wish List:
- Four-wheeled mobility scooter
Furnishing My New Home and Reintegrating into Society
I am an Army veteran. I am a disabled veteran who is living on a very fixed income. I receive VA healthcare assistance from home due to my chronic health conditions.
The refrigerator in my mobile home recently went out, and I cannot afford to replace it right now. If you are able to help me with a different refrigerator, I would appreciate it.
My Wish List:
- Compact refrigerator (Due to the size restrictions in this veteran’s mobile home, the refrigerator can only be up to 5 feet tall and 28 inches wide.)
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
At this time, we are not accepting additional furniture or household goods, unless they are featured in our wish lists above. This is due to our limited storage capacity.
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.
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
- NEW Beds (mattress, box spring, and/or frame) – twin, twin XL, full, or queen only
- Bed sheet sets
- NEW 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
