Applebee restaurants will again provide a meal at no cost for all military active, retired and veterans on Sunday 11 November 2012. Proof of service is required in the form of a Service Retired I.D. card or other such proof. For a restaurant near you go to www.applebees.com .

Grace for Vets Offers Free Carwash. The Grace for Vets Program honors all veterans and military personnel by giving them a free carwash on Veterans Day, 11 November. The program has carwashes participating in all 50 states and includes 467 carwash companies representing 1,181 carwash locations. For more information and to find participating carwashes, visit the Grace for Vets website.

Golden Corral Military Appreciation – Golden Corral restaurants will host their Military Appreciation on Monday 12 NOV with a meal at no cost for all military active, retired and veterans. No proof is required to enjoy this buffet meal. Guests of veterans will have to pay the regular meal price. No take outs. For more information refer to http://goldencorral.com/military/faq.asp. If you have questions, can contact their Corporate Headquarters at Golden Corral Corporation, 5151 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27612 919-781-9310. Headquarters says “You will need to contact the location you are planning to attend to find out their specific hours as some of the locations are making adjustments to accommodate the veterans.”

Hooters – Free Meal, Sunday, Nov. 11. Hooter’s is serving 10 Free Hot wings to military veterans all day on Veterans Day. Offer good for all veterans and active duty military personnel. Offer valid at participating Hooters only; open to all active duty and military veterans with valid military ID or proof of military service. Drink purchase required. For more information, visit, www.HootersVeteransDay.com.

Veteran’s Hospital Long Beach – There will be vendors offering valuable information and resources to veterans along with free food, entertainment, free haircuts and manicures, activities for children of all ages, and a raffle at the Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital. For more information call the Veterans’ Center (562) 826-5353.

Knott’s annual tribute to the Military, past and present, starts November 1st. FREE admission for Veterans or current serving military personnel and one guest with proper I.D. presented at turnstile. The eligible person must be present. Dependent I.D.s will not be accepted. Plus purchase up to six additional tickets for just $19.00 each! Ends November 21. Tickets can be purchased at Knott’s.

Krispy Kreme – Free doughnut and small coffee. Available only at participating Krispy Kreme stores. Offer available to all active-duty, retirees & veterans on Sunday, November 11th. Be sure to call ahead to verify your local Krispy Kreme is participating.

McCormick & Schmick’s Complimentary Lunch or Dinner. The McCormick & Schmick’s Veterans Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 11, 2012 is offered at participating restaurants to veterans defined as a person who served in the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy or Coast Guard. Verification of service is required (retired ID card or DD214). McCormick & Schmick’s highly encourage reservations for the Veterans Appreciation Event as tables fill up quickly for this event each year. You can easily make their reservations online through the restaurant’s website at www.McCormickandSchmicks.com.

National Parks. National Parks will offer fee-free days to ALL visitors at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees. Visit one of your national parks on Veterans Day, 10-12 November 2011, and you won’t be charged an entrance fee. And making the fun even more affordable, many national park concessioners are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors with their own special offers.

Outback Steakhouse. As an expression of Outback Steakhouse’s appreciation to our Country’s veterans and active duty military*, a free Bloomin’ Onion and Coca Cola will be available to them at every Outback in the country November 7-11. Learn more. Please visit www.outback.com for locations.

Subway – Free Six Inch Sub. Select Subway locations offer a FREE six inch sub to military veterans on Veteran’s Day. However, Subway restaurants are franchises, so this offer may not be available everywhere. Please call ahead.

Texas Roadhouse – free lunch, Sunday, Nov. 11. Offer varies by location; our local Texas Roadhouse is offering a free meal from opening until 4pm. Other locations may vary in offer, hours, or availability. Call ahead to your local restaurant for more information.

T.G.I. Friday’s – Buy one get one free Nov 11-14. At participating locations for anyone with an old or current military ID. November 11-14.

Veterans Day in Virginia. A list of Veterans Day Events and Memorials in the state of Virginia is available on the Vacation in Virginia website. Hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and inns across Virginia are offering special rates, reductions and promotions for Veterans Day. National Parks and National Park Service sites are also free to all visitors on Veterans Day in Virginia.

Denny’s. Get free all you can eat pancakes at Denny’s. Call your local Denny’s.

Little Caesars Pizza. US Military and vets get a free order of Crazy Bread Monday, November 12, with proof of military status/service. Call your local Little Caesars to make sure they are participating in this deal.

Olive Garden: Veterans and active duty military get a free meal on Veterans Day. With proper proof of service, choose from a special menu with breadsticks and a choice of soup or salad.

7- Eleven: Veterans, active members of the US military and their immediate families can stop by 7-Eleven on Veterans Day and get a free small Slurpee drink.

Just bring proof of current or former US military service to participating 7-11 stores on 11/11/12 between 11am and 7pm.

Sizzler: Veterans and Military can show proof of service on 11/11/12 and get a free 6oz Steak Entree with the purchase of a second one.

Spaghetti Warehouse: This offer is not free — buy one get one free —it is open to anyone with the printable coupon here. Not limited to members of the military or Veterans. On November 11, 2012.

BJ’s Restaurant. Free Lunch Entree or Free 1 Topping Mini Pizza at Dinner Chammps. On Veterans Day – All Veterans & Active Duty Military will receive a free burger (excluding the Pepperjack Bacon Stack Burger and The Kobe Burger). Please visit Champps Facebook page for more information.

Chilis. Free entree to Veterans and active duty military on 11/11/11 from 11am -5pm.

Famous Dave’s. Participating locations (see their website), are offering different meal deals for current or retired military on Veterans Day.

VETERAN SARAH HAYNES FINDS SUCCESS WITH THE HELP OF GOODWILL

Ms. Haynes (28 years old) was a US Marine from 2005 thru 2009. She last served at HQHQRON, MCAS, Yuma, Arizona. Ms. Haynes Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was that of a Personnel Clerk. Her unit was responsible for the training and preparation of fellow Marines for overseas deployment and combat operations.

While in the US Marines, Ms. Haynes received three meritorious promotions and attained the rank of an E-5 (Sergeant) within two and a half years.  She was honored with a Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Rifle Marksman Badge.

When her family was in distress due to her mother’s illness and a teenage sister that needed a guardian, Ms. Haynes decided to end her military career and was honorably discharged on August 15, 2009.

ENROLLMENT INTO VETERANS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM:

Towards the end of July 2012, Ms. Haynes attended a job fair in Carson, California where she met a GSC Business Services Representative who then referred her to the Veteran Employment Program. On July 31, 2012, Ms. Haynes came into the VEP offices for a one-on-one meeting with a Service Coordinator who provided information regarding the various employment services available to her.

“The day that everything started looking up was at a job fair I went to. I stopped at the Goodwill booth and I left with so much information. I felt hopeful again. I was able to get help through the veteran’s program right away and the resources I learned about changed my life for the better. Suddenly we didn’t feel alone anymore. Every day more and more enthusiasm came back. When I found this program I found support again and it was like I had been holding my breath all this time and could finally let it go,” said Haynes.

During the intake it was revealed that Ms. Haynes was going through very difficult times.  Her mother was suffering from dementia and was living full time in a nursing home in Arizona.  Ms. Haynes reported that she had come out to California to live with an aunt, but her living situation was tentative and she was about to become homeless along with her 19 year old younger sister.

Ms. Haynes was enrolled in Goodwill’s Veterans Employment Program and assigned to a Career Advisor who worked to help secure a place for her and her sister to live. The solution came via a pilot project that had been initiated with a property management company owned by the Cusumano family. “The Charlie Cusumano family partnered with the veteran’s program to provide an apartment. Again I am so grateful and it came at the moment when I absolutely needed it the most. I couldn’t even have imagined this kind of support. Without having to worry about all these big problems, I was able to get back on track and on focus with the job hunt,” said Haynes.

She began actively pursuing employment with the assistance of the Business Services Representative. “I was hired as a medical billing and coding specialist. I have a week’s worth of business attire for my new job, and I have a functional, fueled car to get to and from work. I can take care of my sister in the comfort of our home where we each have beds to sleep on.” Haynes is also enrolled in University of Phoenix and is seeking a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.

Ms. Haynes continues to be enrolled participant in the Veterans Employment Program which will continue to monitor her progress and provide her with continued supportive and vocational counseling, as well as supportive services as deemed necessary for her to retain employment.

“I hope you all realize the impact of your good deeds because I really was at the end of my rope. And I hope I can give back by making you all proud,” said Haynes.

CLICK HERE FOR VETERAN DAY EVENTS

Enter our Halloween Costume Contest for a chance to win $250. Strut your one-of-a-kind costume creativity. Visit your local Halloween BOOtique for inspiration!

Looking for one-of-a-kind Halloween costumes and décor ideas? Visit your local Goodwill Halloween BOOtique today and create the fun filled memories for all your little goblins, ghouls, princesses, witches and more.

And remember to keep your trick-or-treaters safe by carrying flashlights so they can see, and be seen by others.

Looking for one-of-a-kind Halloween costumes and décor ideas? Visit your local Goodwill Halloween BOOtique today and create the fun filled memories for all your little goblins, ghouls, princesses, witches and more.

And remember to keep your trick-or-treaters safe by checking out their own treats!

Looking for one-of-a-kind Halloween costumes and décor ideas? Visit your local Goodwill Halloween BOOtique today and create the fun filled memories for all your little goblins, ghouls, princesses, witches and more.

And remember to keep your trick-or-treaters safe by having them trick-or-treat in groups, so they are never alone.

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Mulholland Attended Donation Center
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Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Open Mon – Sat, 9am – 8pm & Sun, 10am – 8pm

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