Veterans Helping Veterans of America: Durham nonprofit aids combat veterans


Ted Stephens stands by the fireplace in the classroom at Veterans Helping Veterans of America Inc. Here, veterans can take commercial truck driving courses, computer literacy courses, do art or music therapy, or just sit back and watch a little television. Stephens says that it’s important to offer a number of different resources to military veterans. And all of the resources offered to vets are of no cost to them. “Everything we do for a veteran is free,” Stephens says. “Absolutely free. We do not charge him anything. No matter what he needs, we’ll try to get it for him. And we do it free.” (Staff photo by Andrew Forrest)

Ted Stephens stands by the fireplace in the classroom at Veterans Helping Veterans of America Inc. Here, veterans can take commercial truck driving courses, computer literacy courses, do art or music therapy, or just sit back and watch a little television. Stephens says that it’s important to offer a number of different resources to military veterans. And all of the resources offered to vets are of no cost to them. “Everything we do for a veteran is free,” Stephens says. “Absolutely free. We do not charge him anything. No matter what he needs, we’ll try to get it for him. And we do it free.” (Staff photo by Andrew Forrest)

Ted Stephens knows firsthand the challenges many U.S. military veterans face when they return from duty. He spent two years fighting in the Vietnam War as a member of the Air Force.

He was at one time homeless, living out of his car in San Diego. He suffered through alcohol and drug abuse. He’s been clean for years, but admits that he turned to drugs to help him cope with what he had witnessed in Vietnam.

Ted Stephens is the president and CEO of Veterans Helping Veterans of America Inc., a resource center for military veterans in Durham. Here, Stephens stands by a United States Air Force uniform that hangs in one of the building’s offices. Stephens is a veteran of the Air Force and fought in the Vietnam War. (Staff photo by Andrew Forrest)

Ted Stephens is the president and CEO of Veterans Helping Veterans of America Inc., a resource center for military veterans in Durham. Here, Stephens stands by a United States Air Force uniform that hangs in one of the building’s offices. Stephens is a veteran of the Air Force and fought in the Vietnam War. (Staff photo by Andrew Forrest)

He can tell you about the time he held a dying Viet Cong soldier in his arms, and how the soldier, fighting for his last few breaths, placed a crumpled photograph of his wife and child in Stephens’ hand.

And he can tell you about the pain of losing comrades.

“It’s difficult to watch your buddy get his head blown off and it not bother you,” Stephens says. “You can smell death every day. And guess what? Every day somebody is trying to kill you…you begin to not even trust yourself because you don’t want to die.”

A simple start and a promise to God

Stephens is the president and CEO of Veterans Helping Veterans of America Inc., a Durham nonprofit located at 208 S. Hoover Rd. that started in 2009.

He says his goal was to provide veterans with the resources that they needed to not only survive, but thrive within the community once they returned from combat.

In 2007, Stephens was homeless, living out of his car in San Diego.

“People didn’t know I was homeless,” he says. “And I was alone. And so I promised God that I would go wherever he sent me and do whatever he told me to do if he’d just get me out of that homeless situation.”

About a month later, Stephens answered “God’s call” to leave California, heading across the country in his 1990 Chevrolet Astro van. His plan all along was to go to Alexandria, Virginia where his son lived, but once he reached Durham, something told him to stop.

“I’d never been to Durham in my life,” Stephens says. “I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t have no family.”

Shortly thereafter, he discovered the building that would become the headquarters for Veterans Helping Veterans of America.

“I was walking down Holloway Street and something told me to go down this one-way street,” he says.

That one-way street turned out to be Hoover Road, where Stephens found a building for sale with a commercial sign on the front. Stephens contacted the landlord, Cliff Parks, who agreed that Stephens could use the building as both a nonprofit organization and a home. His rent would be $1,200 per month.

A few months later however, Stephens had a stroke, which cost him his job. He went to Parks and told him that he could no longer afford to pay the rent.

Parks says, “Ted was on a limited budget. Over time, we’ve reached a number that he can manage.”

That number was $600. And it’s what Stephens has paid every month since his stroke. Stephens admits that Parks’ generosity is the only reason that Veterans Helping Veterans of America is still open. Parks says he considers it his way of helping Durham’s veteran community.

“Our government is a disgrace on how it treats veterans,” Parks says. “They treat vets like it’s a burden to take care of them after giving everything. And I think it’s wrong…there’s a need that’s not being met publicly, and I’m willing to do my part.”

An all-around resource for veterans

            With Parks’ help, Stephens has been able to do serve the veteran community in a mighty way. And he offers a smorgasbord of services.

There’s a food pantry for veterans and their families. There’s a clothing closet located in an upstairs room. The organization offers commercial truck driving courses as well as courses on Microsoft Office and Excel. Vets can come by for music and art therapy or to simply hang out, relax, and enjoy a hot meal.

But for Stephens, the most rewarding part is simply being able to help veterans reintegrate into the community. He says that when many vets return from war, they don’t know how to find jobs, or in some cases, even find a place to stay.

“You’re coming back in a totally different environment, and nothing scares you more than something you don’t understand,” he says. “When you don’t understand it, you fear it. And you don’t have to because the explanation is there.”

If a veteran needs help finding a job, Stephens gets on the phone and calls local companies that are hiring. If the vets need medical care, he points them in the direction of the nearest Veterans Administration hospital. And if a veteran needs somewhere to sleep for the night, Stephens helps him or her find a place.

But Stephens is quick to point out that he is just a stepping stone. He can’t get a veteran a job. He can only show them where jobs are located. It’s up to them to get hired. But he considers it his responsibility to make life as normal as possible for returning vets.

Many individuals who have experienced war are unable to do what most would consider “everyday tasks,” once they’ve returned home.

“[A veteran] doesn’t know how to go to the grocery store and shop,” Stephens explains. “He doesn’t know how to pay an electric bill. He doesn’t even know what an electric bill is.”

A number of vets suffer from mental disorders upon their return, he says, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. As a result, a trip to the local grocery story may very well result in a violent flashback of war.

“You cannot kill a person and think you’re going to be like John Wayne…you know, I’m over it tomorrow,” Stephens points out. “[I] can’t have breakfast with you in the morning…we’re laughing, joking…you’re telling me about your wife and kids, and by that afternoon, I find half of you lying on the road. That shakes you up.”

Stephens’ main goal is to provide veterans with a small inkling of peace, no matter how crazy their lives may be. They may not know when their next terrifying flashback will occur, but at least they’ll be reassured of a job and a pillow to sleep on at night.

Pat Luke is one of Veterans Helping Veterans of America’s board members. She reiterates Stephens’ sentiments, and says it’s important to offer returning vets a sense of hope.

“They’re so discombobulated,” she says. “When you’re in the service, they own you. If you don’t have a family life…it’s like you don’t know what to do next.”

Small, yet powerful

Stephens will be the first to admit that Veterans Helping Veterans of America is a small nonprofit. He’ll even tell you that the organization doesn’t have nearly enough help.

Stephens is constantly looking for volunteers, and he works tirelessly on the weekends, soliciting donations outside of stores like Kroger and Sam’s Club.

But even with limited funds and resources, Stephens has been able to help veterans all across the country.

“We get calls from Washington state, Massachusetts, Atlanta, Arizona [and] Pennsylvania,” Stephens says. “I can tell you where all the food banks are in your area. And I can tell you how to go down to the social services and apply for food stamps if you don’t have a job. Call me and I can help you.”

And although Veterans Helping Veterans of America is a small organization, Stephens is quick to point out that the nonprofit has grown. It hasn’t been fast growth, but it has grown nonetheless.

“I started this company on $60,” he says. “$60 and a promise to God that I would go wherever he sent me and do whatever he told me he wanted me to do. Every time I give away, to a veteran, four or five bags of food, I know his family is not going to go hungry.”

Every time the organization helps a vet, Stephens is reminded that he made the right decision. His road from San Diego to Durham may have been a winding one, but for Stephens, it was worth it.

It gave him a fresh start: the chance to discover who he truly was. And that’s exactly what he offers veterans today: the opportunity to start anew.

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