Paul Mills Sr, who is a member of the Sons of the American Legion, reflects on his fund raising event called “Operation Help” which he is doing for the second year. The event he started raises money to benefit the American Rescue Workers of Williamsport to help veterans from becoming homeless. During the first year of this he raised over $6,000.00 which helped the families of 9 veterans from becoming homeless. Mr. Mills had to end his weekend-long event because of health reasons early Saturday morning. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

For the second year in a row, a Williamsport man braved two days in the harsh January cold to raise awareness about the epidemic of homelessness that affects far too many U.S. Military veterans.

“I started Operation Help Veterans to honor a good friend of mine. He was a homeless veteran who took his own life,” said Paul Mills Sr., sergeant-at-arms for the Sons of the American Legion Post 1, who launched Operation Help Veterans last year.

The goal of the projects is to raise funds to help homeless veterans secure housing or avert veterans in financial hardships from falling into homelessness.

As with last year, Mills camped out in front of the American Legion Post 1, 10 E. Third St., from noon Friday to noon Sunday, to shine a light on the roughly 14 to 1,500 homeless veterans sleeping on the street throughout the state.

“Last year, we raised a little over $6,000, which we turned into the American Rescue Workers’ veterans program, and we were able to help nine veterans’ families so they didn’t become homeless. We helped them with their utilities and their rent,” Mills said.

While keeping roofs over the heads of veterans and their families is a main priority of Mills’, he said that is far from the only concern of those who served their country.

“I’m doing this to raise awareness, so that people don’t forget our veterans,” he said.

“Even if you don’t have money to donate, at least reach out to a veteran and let them know they’re not forgotten. Because it goes beyond just homelessness, it goes to mental health problems and substance abuse problems,” Mills said.

“Just saying ‘hello’ and ‘thank you for your service’ speaks volumes,” he said.

Much like the dear friend he created his fundraiser in honor of, Mills said many veterans have too much pride to seek out help when they need it.

“They won’t ask people for help. And, that’s where we as a community need to bring awareness and be able to be on the look out when they might be going through something and let them know we’re here,” he said.

That community Mills speaks of has been overwhelmingly supportive of his efforts.

“The community was wonderful last year. Even people who couldn’t donate still stopped by to give their support,” he said.

That support included first responders checking in on Mills throughout the night to make sure he was safe.

“And it still went on, even after it was over last year, I received checks in the mail to turn over to the Rescue Workers,” Mills said.

“Anyone who wants to donate can write a check out to the American Rescue Workers, and put ‘Paul Mills’ in the memo. All of that money will go directly to the veterans’ program,” he said.

Mills’ 2025 campaign received a major boost courtesy of the Blue Star Mothers of America North Central PA Chapter 12, who contributed $1,100 towards his efforts.

Chartered by Congress in 1960, Blue Star Mothers of America is a group created to support mothers, stepmothers and female legal guardians who have or have had children serving in the U.S. Military.

“We like to support anything that helps our veterans or our present service people, so we wanted to come out and help spread the word,” said Elaine Johnson, an auxiliary member visiting with Mills.

“I have a grandson that graduated from the Air Force Academy, who is in the service. His dad was in the service, and my husband was in the service,” she said.

“My husband was in the reserves during the Vietnam War, and when he passed away, the thing that made me cry was when I saw them put on the flag holder on his grave that said ‘Vietnam War,’ because at that time, we were kind of afraid to let anybody know that he was in the Reserves, because it was not the thing to do, to go over there,” she said.

Mills hopes to develop his one man mission into a full-fledged nonprofit with an eye on reaching veterans across the area, and is currently looking to recruit those with the technical know-how to help him get it off the ground.

He envisions a center to house homeless veterans while they get back on their feet, providing them with workshops and other essential resources.

He also plans to hold his campouts in different parts of the county each year, possibly even venturing into neighboring counties.

While not wishing to get political, Mills said he has been disappointed with the government’s lack of action to help veterans and current service members.

It is his hope that his continued efforts will raise interest among local lawmakers to join his plight.

No matter the size of their contribution, Mills wants everyone to know they have his utmost gratitude.

“I just want to thank my community for their help last year and this year. I couldn’t have done it without them,” he said.

Mills encourages anyone interested in assisting him in establishing his nonprofit or simply becoming involved in Operation Help Veterans to reach out to him via Facebook or by phone at 570-974-6264.