Exeter EAGF members help out at Veterans Chapel Project looks to help homeless

EXETER — On Saturday, Nov. 5, the Exeter Area General Federation of Women’s Clubs, led by their Conservation Committee, spent the day at the Veterans Resort Chapel in Lee.

Thirteen volunteers gave a combined 56 hours of their time for a Veterans Day service project. They cleared land, raked and cleaned up the front yard. They also painted and cleaned the inside of the chapel and inside a tiny house that will soon to be a home for a disabled veteran. "We met some great people and learned about helping those who served our country," said spokesman Linda Gavin-Howard.

"EAGFWC is proud to be part of an international organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service," continued Gavin-Howard. "We enjoyed meeting Peter Macdonald, who has devoted his energy to passionately advocating for homeless Veterans in New Hampshire. His goal is to help these homeless Veterans off the streets and to allow them to find their way back mentally and physically."

Macdonald, a Vietnam Vet, and his wife used their life savings to purchase 11 acres of land on Wheel Wright Pond at 101 Stepping Stone Road in Lee. He then donated the land to a veterans non-profit (Veteran Resort Chapel) with the idea of helping homeless U.S. military combat veterans.

Ken Beaulieu, a disabled Navy corpsman, and his wife Rebecca have partnered with Pete Macdonald at Veterans Resort Chapel. Their shared goal is to provide rent free tiny homes and the training needed for the homeless combat Veterans to become farmers. Here the Veterans will have the ability to receive services from the VA as well as local resources. To learn more about donating and volunteering please visit www.facebook.com/VeteransChapelFarm, www.veteranresortchapel.com/home.html or www.eagfwc.org/ and http://www.gfwc.org.