[upbeat music] - [Johnnie] My grandfather was a POW in World War I, my father was a World War II veteran.

I was a Vietnam era Veteran.

I have a son, came out a first Sergeant, his two sons are both sergeants in the Marine Corps.

And that's, I guess, what committed me to being a activist for Veterans.

There's no way in hell should any Veteran be living on the sidewalk today in our society, it has to be stopped.

[soft music] Not many people know this, but if I'm not mistaken, Cape May County has the highest population of Veterans in the state.

Got a lot of homeless Vets down here that live in the woods or live in tent cities.

And they live off the dumpsters behind the stores.

We started our activism, CVAC, which stands for Citizens and Veterans Advisory Committee Cape May County.

Came about eight years ago due to a friend of mine asking for help for an employee of his who was going to be homeless.

I reached out over social media, and in a matter of weeks we got this guy the housing and after it was completed I thought, just imagine we were organized and had a group and did it.

So I reached out to these people, and most of them people are still with us today.

[inspiring music] The more that we would do and the more we would hit the local papers, the more people would call up and say, "How can we become a part of that?"

- [person on phone] Johnnie Walker will be in my heart and my memory forever.

- The little fat guy.

- [person on phone] Yeah.

- We're about 52 strong of volunteers.

And we're the only organization that I know of in the state, that can get homeless Vets into housing within 24 to 48 hours.

And just to bring everybody up to date on this homeless Veteran, that we're working with.

CVAC put 'em in a motel for two weeks.

It's just a unique group of people who don't get paid a dime but all work together for the same mission.

And that mission is helping our brother and sister Veterans.

- This simple form gets them $250.

All they gotta do is verify and and, and fill out the paperwork and send it in.

- My normal day with CVAC I'm up by 6:30-7 AM.

The first thing I'm on is the computer for about an hour, an hour and a half.

And the next thing I'm out on the street.

The biggest problem we face down here in southern New Jersey.

There's not enough shelters.

There's very little shelters and nobody wants some shelters in their neighborhoods.

These are tourist town and they don't want to be associated with homeless people.

CVAC, we're not trying to replace the VA in any way, shape or form.

I just saw that there's a lot of Veterans out there who are entitled to benefits, but don't know how to get 'em.

The VA is a great institution.

It does an amazing job, but they don't take you by the hand and walk you through the process.

If you don't learn what's out there for you you don't get it.

So different Veterans organizations down here in the community, we all pull together.

What we're trying to do is help Veterans who have emergency needs and those emergency needs to Veterans could be very small to us.

But It makes a big difference.

Nobody has to tell me what the American Legion does.

You guys do a phenomenal job, and we thank you.

We really thank you.

The saddest thing that I deal with each and every day is when I get a family member, say "I have a Veteran who's 90 years old and needs medical help."

Well, sometimes that's too late because it may take two, three years before the process is completed and you can get the help.

We have case workers who volunteer for us and, and we help by paying utility bills, put food on the table, put ramps up.

We finished decks, replaced decks.

We went into homes and made 'em handicap accessible.

We have a lot of our senior Veterans who don't even have money to buy the prescriptions and the drugs they need.

We assist and help them.

- I've got shaving cream, soap, shampoo, whatever you need to put in the bags.

We fix cars, bought tires, work boots, school clothing for children, school supplies.

We load up backpacks with some things that we give out to families that need help.

We can get housing for a homeless Vet within 24 to 48 hours.

We put 'em in a motel for a couple weeks and then we get 'em into the Catholic Charity Program and they make themselves sustainable to get back into the community.

Sometimes it's not only the monetary or the physical that they need help with.

Sometimes they just talk.

And that's what we try and give the Vets, somebody to talk to.

I believe very strongly in the grace of God.

And I feel I'm here for a reason.

And he gives me that strength and energy to keep going.

And I will keep going as long as he, he gives me that strength and faith.

- Let them know how much love and care for them.

And that it'll give them information on reaching them.

- [Johnnie] But it, it, it's not about me.

It's not about me.

It's not about no individual.

It's about all of us.

There's so many good, good people that I've met in Cape May County that want to help.

No hesitation, they're just there on the spot.

The best thing that anybody can do is thank a Vet.

If you see a guy wearing a Veterans cap, say, "Thanks for your service."

And my favorite line to come back is, "It was my honor to serve."