Spotlight
Eastman & Smith Attorneys and Staff Raise Funds for Berry's Landing
In the spirit of the holiday season, Eastman & Smith's attorneys and staff raised over $400 for the residents of Berry's Landing, a Toledo-based organization that provides homeless veterans with mental illness a chance to recover with permanent housing and other support. The program offers tenants the tools needed to get healthy and achieve their goals through individual meetings with a Recovery Specialist, peer support group meetings and on-site seminars to help with life skills such as using public transportation, financial management, housekeeping, stress and anger management and food preparation. Tenants are also encouraged to engage in mental health services, complete substance addiction programs if necessary, maintain permanent housing and increase their independence. The program is designed just for disabled veterans who have been homeless. The first group of residents named the building Berry's Landing in honor of Bernard "Bernie" Berry, who died in 2003 of cancer. He was the first veteran in Northwest Ohio to receive the Silver Rose award, given to Vietnam veterans with Agent Orange-related illnesses. The money raised will be used to purchase a new computer for the community room which will enable residents to apply for jobs and stay in contact with friends and family. In addition to the computer, enough money was raised to provide Berry's Landing residents with other household items. Funds were raised through donations, a bagel sale and other activities.