We are a group of workers at Lowe's in Columbia MD. Our company helped Aid Our Veterans last summer build some wheel chair ramps for the veterans with physical handicaps. Aid Our Veterans has a home in Baltimore where they help disabled veterans from the Vietnam war up to the Iraq & Afghanistan war. It was so heart warming to volunteer and build these ramps for our injured soldiers.
It is said when disgruntled emloyees who stole money from homeless veterans can come here and tell lies about their former employer. I am a veteran and I worked several years for a veteran's homeless shelter in Florida, I hold and MBA and wake up proud to go to work helping those who make it possible for me to live free. The bad apples mentioned here are gone and we take care vetting any new employee. Will we make an occasional mistake? Yes! But that mistake will be gone real quick. Pray for us and our homeless veterans. God Bless Bob Corson
I am the one who wrote a bad review against Aid Our Veterans back in December 2013, I would just like to set the record straight. I was a very mad employee that want to try to hurt this company and I am truly SORRY for doing so. This company as do nothing but work hard to help vets in need all hours of the day and night.., they are truly a blessing to those who have serviced our country. I apology to all those I have hurt by doing this, and I apology to those who may have been hurt by my wrong doings...
I AM TRUELY SORRY,
Wiser
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I worked for AOV from 2009, and shortly before the founder Toms passing this June 2013. Up this point Tom did well in his mission. But some were he started spending all the money by gambling, sending his daughters to college, buying them cars, his own personal boat, but they will claim the only boats and cars they had was donated some yes but not all were. The house in Essex Md. now has been abandon by the new president (Debra Smith), cause it is in foreclosure and in doing so she has left a disable veterans at the house to defend for himself and his wife as well, who has been with the company from the very beginning, what ever happen to leave not man behind? AOV recently held a food drive, supposedly to help veterans, not one bit of the food collected went to veterans like it was meant to do. The new president and her daughter as well as other non veterans took the food for them selves. So you can only image were the rest of the funds may be going. You may ask how do I know these things cause I been around and see and hear very well. Now AOV has pay for some of there employees places to live and in some case still pay there bills and most aren't veterans without DD214s. This company is ran now for the soul purpose to take care of themselves and not veterans like it started out doing. I seen this coming that is why I left, beside mismanagement from the office. This new president couldn't even do the accounting she was hired to do by Tom, he had to hire an employment service to do the books now she runs the company. On top of it all AOV pays her daughter for a full time job that she doesn't even do.. she attends college now as well. Boy they learned from the best didn't they. And if you completed to Tom about this he didn't want to hear it, so what was going on there, makes you wonder? So be careful before giving to this company cause all you are doing is paying for there life style now, them don't help veterans at ALL.. And to but the icing on the for you all, I was paid 30% at first of the money I collected before it was over with I was at 50%, gas and tolls all came out first from the collect bucket, and we even had to pay Tom for the items that are on the table for donations so you do the math. If two thousands dollars was collected and there was three hundred in expenses there is seventeen hundred left, I got half, that is eight hundred and fifty dollars I made as well as AOV.
Tom Conlan sadly has passed away, however, Aid Our Veterans, Inc is still very much continuing to operate and help veterans who have fallen on hard times.
Unfortunately, there is always going to be disgruntled ex employees. If you would like more information on what AOV does, please feel free to call 410-391-8721 Monday through Friday 9am till 5pm.
Thank you to everyone who has expressed their thanks and kind words.
The President of this organization has passed away and the organization is now a complete shambles. The workers are more than likely doing the shows and pocketing all of the proceeds that are collected from the public. The headquarters in Baltimore is in foreclosure.
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These crooks use money that they collect to get fast food at every show. Don't waste your hard earned cash, give to the Salvation Army. All of the management at SA are volunteers. All of the AOV people get a percentage of what they collect not to mention expenses and then there are administrative costs for running the organization. All in all I would say the vets get about 3%, if that. Give them a $5 and immediately $1.50 goes to the person you hand the money to and maybe some vet gets .15 cents. They beg hotel rooms and meals from unsuspecting chains and live high on the hog when they travel. It is one big vacation for the "volunteers"
Jobless, Disabled and losing hope. The VA social worker got me in touch with Aid Our Veterans. They stopped my eviction and helped me get current. They worked with my VA representative to settle my disability case. Now my bills are current and I have a livable monthly income. These people at Aid Our Veterans really care. Thank You for the help. Tony
Review from Guidestar
I am so thankful to Aid Our Veterans for their recent help. I am a veteran who found myself for the first time in my life, unable to pay all my bills. I was injured on the job several months ago and my income was cut down to 1/3rd what I was used to. Well it didn't take long for all my savings to disappear. I'm set to get back to work just before Christmas but the car finance company was ready to repose my car. Aid Our Veterans provided me with enough money to let me keep my truck. Now I can get back to work and get ahead of my bills again. Thank You, Aid Our Veterans and all the generous contributors to their organization. A Grateful Marine, Annapolis MD.
What a great organization. I had a boat that I donated to Aid Our Veteeans, 36 footer with 2 cabins. The first week Aid Our Veterans was using it for a couple of homeless veterans. The boat is in Annapolis MD. and is being used to help homeless veterans. As a retired marine colonel I couldn't be any prouder. Keep up the great work, Semper Fi.
I am so grateful to Aid Our Veterans. My husband and I have run into some difficult times and we got behind on our bills. Just as the weather turned cold our electric company was getting ready to discontinue our service. The good news is that my husbands disability was finally approved so we will now be able to pay our bills. The GREAT news is that Aid Our Veterans helped us out by getting our electric bill current! Thank You Debra, all the other veterans at Aid Our Veterans. Anna Marie P.
1st of all, What a God Send!!!! I am a senior citizen who has become homeless and out of work. The past four years have been devastating for me. My husband of 30 years passed away, we met when I was in the Air Force, and all of a sudden my life went out of control. I've lost almost everything, house, cars, all my savings, and was evicted from my apartment. A friend told me to call Aid Our Veterans and I am sure glad I did. With little notice they set up a team of Vets to help me move all my possessions into storage and found a temporary place for me to stay. After a couple of weeks they helped me move again into a longer term place but that fell apart after only two weeks. Well Aid Our Veterans was there again picking me and my stuff up and getting me moved. I'm currently looking for a permanent place with the help of the VA and Aid Our Veterans is storing my stuff until I move again. I don't know what the future will bring me, but I do know that with Aid Our Veterans I don't have to worry about my items or moving. Thank You guys, especially Tom Conlan. An angel sent from heaven. Emma
I was attending a gun show last weekend when I came across this organization. The woman, Suzette, was sharing information about their charity and told me about their Hematite program. Hematite is a magnetized stone that they turn into jewelry and wear it to reduce aches and pains. Well Aid Our Veterans program is that every time someone buys a piece of Hematite jewelry for themselves, they, Aid Our Veterans will then give a piece of jewelry out to a recovering Veteran on behave of the customer. I was skeptical so I skipped at buying anything and just made a dollar donation. About 40 minutes later I was in the aisle behind her and watched as she greeted a war wounded Vet in a wheel chair. "Welcome Home Honey" she said, and then got into a long discussion about his service and how his recovery was going. She gave this veteran a necklace, 2 bracelets, 2 rings and a necklace and bracelet to his girl friend. The soldier asked her how much and she said "nothing for you hero. All these fine people around here have donated to our organization so we can provide these to you. It's our way and their way of saying Thank you for your service!" WOW! The crowd cheered this soldier and you could see the emotion in Suzette's eye, a tear of such heartfelt appreciation. Thank You Aid Our Veterans and especially Suzette. And Yes, I went back by and bought a bracelet.
This is a great and growing organization. They have created 23 full time jobs around the country with 20 of them being formally unemployed Veterans. They have helped out over 500+ Veterans in just the last 3 years with everything from food, clothing, emergency heating fuel, stopping evictions and foreclosure's and so much more. Great Organization
Review from Guidestar
I know someone who does their fundraising. Taking 1/3 to 1/2 of the $$ donations for their salary qualifies this group as a scam. They even bragged how much they could take home after a gun show. This is very sad. Often they train a representative who is not bright and who actually believes that they are doing a service for the vets. Skip this group.
TopVet 10/09/2012
Aid Our Veterans Here - I'll repeat the obvious. This woman hides behind the false profile that Great Nonprofits allows. Again - This post was submitted by a thief who worked for us a couple of years ago. She had the opportunity to make similar claims in a court of law. The judge found her guilty of being a thief. She was found guilty, sentenced and is a convicted felon. Her personal vendetta is creating false profiles and submitting lies on this site. She has made similar complaints against other non-profits where she worked and stole money. To all who find these childish actions offensive, please send Great Nonprofits a e-mail of complaint. Great Nonprofits will not do anything to stop such false posting but with a few thousand e-mails maybe we can get them to change their policy. This is no forum for personal attacks.
I meet Rick at a gun show in Texas this weekend and he was a fantastic guy. I am having a difficult time making ends meet. Rick was telling me about the efforts of Aid Our Veterans and how they could help me. Rick made a phone call and then told me he could find some part time work for me next week. It will be enough to help me make ends meet and stop my decline. Aid Our Veterans is a great organization. Here in Texas besides me they have 5 other people working. Plus they help out homeless Veterans every week with emergency food, clothing and shelter. We need a whole lot of more organizations like this. Our Veterans deserve so much more then what they receive. Thank You Aid Our Veterans and Rick.
What a Fantastic charity Aid Our Veterans is. My uncle who served in the Korean war is disabled and in need of assitance in his waning years. One of his pleasures in life is visiting gun shows on weekends so I get him together, grab his wheel chair and take him to a gun show. A few weeks back on a weekend we meet a worker from Aid Our Veterans at the gun show and my uncle talked to the gentelman about his issues with the VA, trouble getting around, and more. Within a week! Aid Our Veterans had a electric wheel chair delivered to my uncle so he can get around on his own. They are also working with the VA to get him the care he was promised. This past weekend my uncle and I went to another gun show here in central PA. We came across a lady working for Aid Our Veterans and my uncle was so overcome with absolute appreciation, he began showing off his mobility in his electric wheelchair and spent the rest of the day telling everyone at the show to support Aid Our Veterans and their mission. This is such a worthy charity with fantastic people who remember ALL our veterans, even the ones from the Korean war. Thank You Aid Our Veterans!
Aid Our Veterans came to our rescue. As a Vietnam veteran I have been suffering from a war injury and some kind of bad infection for the past 40 plus years. Well it finally got so bad that I had to have the lower part of my left leg amputated. Aid Our Veterans has been doing all the coordination between the VA and the doctors to arrange for the hospital care and now they are working on getting me all the rehabilitation work. It is tough enough to lose a limb but to have to do all the paper work and make so many calls and fight the bureaucracy would have been to overwhelming for me. Thank you Diane for all your help. Thank you Aid Our Veterans for all your help. Sincerely, Ralph from Baltimore
TopVet 05/31/2012
Aid Our Veterans Here - Thank you Ralph, for your kind words and of course for your service to our country. Semper Fi
Aid Our Veterans approached our organization in Annapolis MD. about bringing some recovering veterans from Walter Reed to our Burning of the Socks event. At first we were skeptical but Tom assured us that the men and women from Walter Reed would be very excited and happy to attend. I volunteered to be an escort for them and am I glad I did. To see these young men and women going through their recovery, and to hear their story's Yet No regrets! Not one of them was feeling sorry for their situation nor were they looking for sympathy or a handout. Their sense of their fatalistic state and belief in their country was over whelming. Being from Annapolis I have always been so proud of our service men and women attending the U.S. Naval Academy. But after visiting with these young men and women I am now in such awe of what measures of patriotism truly exist. Thank You Tom Conlan for all you do.
TopVet 05/31/2012
Aid Our Veterans Here - Thank you for your kind comments. The Annapolis event was so wonderful. We look forward to the next time you can be a volunteer with us.
Review from Guidestar
I'm a Army soldier who was injured in Afganistan. I'm in recovery at Walter Reed and Aid Our Veterans hosted a group of us a few weeks ago. They picked us up and took us to a Motorcycle show giving us a few hours away from the hospital. Aid Our Veterans did this for us at no charge and just let us be us. No publicity, no using us as a bunch of trained monkeys. We were allowed to just be us in the crowed just like everybody else. Two men from Aid Our Veterans spent their Friday night picking us up and taking us out to the motorcycle show, I know that they could have been doing a lot more fun things on a Friday night then driving us around, but that's what they wanted to do. Thank You, Aid our Veterans and please thank the two men who were so kind to us.
TopVet 05/31/2012
Aid Our Veterans - You are more then welcome my friend. however we owe you and your fellow soldiers a lot of Thanks, for all you do. And Thank you for your Service
Review from Guidestar
Aid Our Veterans is a dedicated group of individuals working to help homeless and out of work Veterans. We are a Veteran led organization that has helped hundreds of Veterans over the past two years. We have provided shelter to many homeless veterans as well as providing jobs and transportation to improve their lives.
The previous post was submitted by an ex-employee who stole thousands of dollars from the non-profit and is a fugitive from the law. All the allegations are false but unfortunately this forum allows anyone to post anything with out revealing who they are or why they post such things. Reading that post it is easy to see that the person who has stole the money from the non-profit is spiteful because AOV had them arrested and pressed charges. This person was homeless and out of work at the end of summer in 2009 when AOV gave them a place to live and provided them with a job. They were associated with AOV for approximately 8 months when they were fired for stealing money. They did a little bit of volunteer work for AOV but was mostly a paid employee. After about 6 months this person became involved with drugs and criminals and participated in armed robberies and other crimes. When they stole the money AOV had to fire them and report them to the law. AOV gave this person a chance to turn their life around, helped them turn their life around and then when they made bad choices for themselves, they wanted AOV to drop the charges of stealing and let them get away with the crime. This person has not ever offered even a simple apology for their actions. It is a shame that this person who was helped so much by AOV has such venomous hatred against those who gave so much to help them out. The shame of it all is that a good and decent charity that reached out to help this person when they were in such need is now the target of their anger because they refuse to accept responsibility for themselves. However, we wish this person well and hope they get the rehabilitation they need while they are serving their prison sentence.
Sincerely,
Tom Conlan
Pres. Aid Our Veterans
http://aidourveterans.net
Review from Guidestar
well, i used to be a volunteer for AID OUR VETERANS and im a highly mad individual, my years for working for this organization working closely with Tom Conlan the president of a.o.v. i came to investigate where does the money go? i found the answer. it ends up in Tom conlans pocket and personal bills he take most of the money raised and repairs his personal home, persona; vehicles not once has money or resources ended up helping veterans please be forewarned dont give to this group until u did ur homework.
TopVet 05/31/2012
Aid Our Veterans Here - This post was submitted by a thief who worked for us a couple of years ago. She had the opportunity to make similar claims in a court of law. The judge found her guilty of being a thief. She was found guilty, sentenced and is a convicted felon. Her personal vendetta is creating false profiles and submitting lies on this site. She has made similar complaints against other non-profits where she worked and stole money. To all who find these childish actions offensive, please send Great Nonprofits a e-mail of complaint. Great Nonprofits will not do anything to stop such false posting but with a few thousand e-mails maybe we can get them to change their policy. This is no forum for personal attacks.
Review from Guidestar
Comments ( 1 )
TopVet 05/31/2012 Thank you and all the volunteers from Lowe's. the wheel chair ramps make life so much easier for our disabled veterans staying at our retreat.