Drum, charities help each other

Fort Drum has both buoyed local charities with volunteers and income and created more clients to serve, often at the same charities.

Many local agencies depend on both soldiers, as volunteers, and their spouses, who provide the community with a larger pool of employees.

But as demographics change, those with ties to Fort Drum also can be the ones most likely to need help. When soldiers get a divorce, ex-spouses can suddenly find themselves looking for housing and in need of a host of other services only local charities can provide.

Meanwhile, combat injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries, are on the rise in the military, and nonprofits often are being asked to provide assistance.

Overall, executive directors of nonprofits consider Fort Drum to have had an overwhelmingly positive effect on the north country.

Karen Y. Richmond, executive director of the Children's Home of Jefferson County, said, "We have a lot of staff connected to Fort Drum."

Fort Drum soldiers and spouses have volunteered with the organization, or brought their children to community-based programs.

"A lot of the Fort Drum community wants to get involved in the larger community," said Janelle G. Bossuot, events coordinator for the Children's Home of Jefferson County. "For Big Brothers Big Sisters (which is run by the Children's Home), Fort Drum provides a great new pool of volunteers."

Organizations from the post have helped Watertown Urban Mission with donations to the food pantry and Impossible Dream store. Soldiers and families frequent the store, too.

"A lot of people when they come, they will get things at the store and when they go, will bring what they don't need here," Watertown Urban Mission Executive Director Mary M. Morgan said.

Department of Social Services Commissioner Laura C. Cerow said, "I think Jefferson County is a little better off than some other New York rural counties because of Fort Drum."

"If there's been an impact in our area, it may be parents of people at Fort Drum," said John Turongian, chief executive officer of United Helpers Care Inc., Ogdensburg. "I'd say it's been a positive impact. They do a great outreach."

The growing need for local nonprofits is connected to the frequent deployment and transfer of soldiers, leaders say.

"There are a lot of people that seem to be brand new to the area," Miss Morgan said. "Many seem to have a tenuous relationship with Fort Drum."

One reason is that the Army does not provide benefits to ex-spouses — primarily women — once a marriage ends. (The military does give money to soldiers for child support.)

One of the programs at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Ogdensburg is expanding partly because of Fort Drum.

Donna M. Franklin, executive director, wants to add a second employee in Jefferson County for the expanding traumatic brain injury program. She expects to see an influx in veterans in the program.

Besides injured veterans, the program focuses on young adults with traumatic brain injuries.

"This area is identified with one of the largest populations of younger people suffering from traumatic brain injuries from ATV and car accidents," she said.

Disabled Persons Action Organization serves about 15 family members of soldiers, who are integrated into the programs that serve their needs.

"They're in all of our other programs," said Joseph L. Rich, DPAO executive director.

And the basic housing allowance for soldiers has created hardship for the working poor in the north country.

"Even as there are more empty units everywhere, no one wants to lower rents," Miss Morgan said. "It seems better to see people in houses than having a house standing empty."

Scott P. Mathys, executive director of Lewis County Opportunities, said the rental cost increase is a complex issue.

"Fort Drum could be attributed as one of those reasons," he said. "People are having a hard time finding an apartment they can stay in even with vouchers."

One of the largest ties Fort Drum has with public charities is through contracts with Jefferson Rehabilitation Center. JRC provides services to enhance the quality of life of people with disabilities though education and vocational programs, residential services and advocacy.

About 140 developmentally disabled workers and their supervisors work in janitorial, recycling, dining facilities and the post's Central Issue Facility. That facility manages the military equipment that soldiers use.

"Most agencies of our kind run 85 to 90 percent on Medicaid reimbursements," said Michael C. Capone, JRC's community relations manager. "In 2007, only 50 percent came from Medicaid."

Between the Fort Drum contract and the agency's work center on West Main Street, Production Unlimited, the agency has been able to move away from reliance on Medicaid.

The government contracts also have allowed the agency to grow and offer more jobs to those with disabilities.

In total, JRC employs 700 clients and supervisors, including the 140 who work at Fort Drum and 100 at Production Unlimited.