Vets embody ‘grit’ of ANR, NDC strategic plan
For veterans like Tim Sutton and Zachary Townsend, programs offered by the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources and Nonprofit Development Corporation have given them a second chance at life.
ANR and NDC, two nonprofit organizations operating out of Butler, offer numerous programs to help fulfill needs such as transportation, employment and more.
The collaboration was established in July 2024 and has been continuously rolling out. It is outlined under four core values: empowerment, collaboration, grit and passion.
Christopher Lunn, executive director of both ANR and NDC, said his goal was to help board, staff and stakeholders all be on the same page when it comes to the organizations’ direction.
“We hope to expand our community impact and capitalize on how to help expand horizons for our clients and employees,” Lunn said.
Sutton and Townsend are two veterans who specifically benefit from jobs and transportation provided by ANR and NDC.
According to VA Butler Healthcare, when plans to establish the Rideshare program between the Butler VA and either Uber or Lyft fell through due to a lack of available drivers, ANR stepped up to fill the gap. Since 2022, ANR and Butler VA have collaborated to offer hundreds of rides each year.
“We’ve been able to expand our Rideshare services beyond the original coverage,” Cody Slater, director of transportation at ANR, said.
The expansion of transportation is outlined under the “grit” section of the strategic plan, and also includes Children & Youth Services, probation and the Rise Up Rides collaborative project.
“If this program wasn’t here, I don’t know where I’d be,” Sutton said.
Sutton and Townsend believe the Rideshare service to be invaluable to veterans across Butler County. According to Sutton, the program lets veterans deal with less financial burden and gives necessary room for rebuilding of savings.
“When it comes to cars, you have a payment and insurance and gas and repairs,” Sutton said. “It’s a big commitment, especially when you’re already down on your luck.”
Sutton and Townsend utilize the Rideshare program for nearly all of their transportation needs, including their “supportive employment” with NDC’s construction division.
The strategic plan outlines future goals related to employment under the “empowerment” section. They focus on supportive employment opportunities through the NDC construction division and Donut Connection, as well as new training initiatives.
Both Sutton and Townsend expressed the fulfilling nature of their work with NDC, which they believe raises other veterans out of the “same situation” they were once in.
“It’s a good feeling and a good experience,” Townsend said.
The NDC construction division is a licensed general contractor focusing on “providing the community with affordable construction and comprehensive property management services,” according to its website.
The division also focuses on providing housing opportunities through modular home construction, according to the “grit” section of the strategic plan. Sutton and Townsend said their work on these homes has been a blessing.
“Being the light at the end of the tunnel for people is an incredible feeling,” Sutton said.
According to Lunn, the work done by NDC’s construction division helps to both “teach the trade and establish something for the community.”
“It’s a stimulating experience,” Sutton agreed. “They teach us everything from A to Z in construction.”
The NDC construction division and Donut Connection are not the only employment opportunities offered by the organizations. ANR offers human resources, fiscal and IT work for local nonprofit organizations, as well as overseeing the local Agency with Choice program for individuals with intellectual disabilities, under its strategic plan’s “passion” section.
The security offered to Sutton and Townsend through the ANR — Butler VA Rideshare program as well as NDC’s construction division have given them a second chance they felt they desperately needed.
While Sutton hails from Lock Haven and Townsend from West Virginia, their focus is on building a new life here in Butler.
“Life changes in a blink of an eye,” Sutton said. “I’ve just been taking it one day at a time.”
