VA spokesperson says employees have returned merchandise meant for distribution to homeless veterans.

by Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org

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On Monday of this week we presented this article:

VA EMPLOYEES STEAL FROM HOMELESS VETERANS -- Internal email says employees took merchandise specifically donated to help homeless veterans at Stand Down held by Atlanta VA. "For every item stolen, there is a veteran somewhere whose day-to-day life is now a little more difficult."

 

Here is the follow-up report.

I spoke with Greg Kendall, the head of Public Affairs for the Atlanta VA facility.  Kendall is also a retired Army Sergeant Major with 30 years active duty.

Kendall was at the Stand Down on Saturday October 3, 2009.  He tells me that when the event was over, "someone" put out the word that leftover items could be taken home by VA employees who worked at the Stand Down.  VA authorities are still trying to find out who put out this false information.

Kendall said that as soon as he realized what was happening (within minutes), he got together with the VA's Police Chief and they put an end to it.  Kendall feels that "fewer than 30" persons were involved in taking merchandise meant for homeless veterans, and that he and the Chief managed to stop most of them before they left the area.

However, some people did manage to leave with merchandise.  And, that's why the VA put out the email (printed in the first article) asking for the merchandise back and offering an amnesty period.

Kendall told me that a great number of items have been returned to the Atlanta VA and they are "confident" that employees did the right thing and returned the merchandise they had taken.

Kendall called it an "unfortunate" incident and blamed the matter on the false information that was put out telling employees they could take what was left at the end of the Stand Down.

Kendall assured me that Atlanta VA employees now understand that Stand Down items are only for veterans in need, and that such an incident will not happen again.

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TOPICS: veterans, veterans' benefits, VA, Department of Veterans' Affairs, Atlanta, Stand Down