A Partnership Built on Service and Community

Each year Piedmont’s Veterans and Military Employee Resource Group (VMERG) brings employees, families, and community partners together for the Left, Right, Left 5K. Now in its third year, the event continues to grow as a celebration of service and a reminder that supporting veterans is a responsibility shared across our communities. This year the VMERG is proud to partner with Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania (VOPA), a local organization in Harrisburg, PA, dedicated to ending veteran homelessness and restoring stability, dignity, and independence for those who once served our nation. 

The third annual Left Right Left 5K builds on that partnership and the momentum created in previous years. Last year, the event raised $27,600, demonstrating the impact that collective action can have. Now, we are working toward a new goal of $30,000 to expand support for veterans in Central Pennsylvania. By joining us, participating in the run, or contributing to this year’s fundraising effort, you help move this mission forward and help ensure that veterans are getting the support they need. 

For Dale Witmer, VMERG leadership sponsor, the purpose of the Left, Right, Left 5K has always been clear: supporting veterans in need and bringing Piedmont team members together in meaningful ways. Dale shared that many veterans carry burdens quietly, “There are veterans who are too proud to ask for help but need it desperately.” He sees the 5K as a direct extension of the VMERG’s mission to strengthen our veterans, military personnel, their families, and communities through impactful programs, services, compassion, and engagement. Dale has also watched team members from across Piedmont step forward each year to support the event, humbled to see their willingness to help ensure its success. 

VOPA plays a vital role in addressing the challenges veterans face throughout Central Pennsylvania. The organization is locally founded and focused on ending veteran homelessness by providing safe housing, comprehensive support services, and a pathway to long term independence. Their mission centers on restoring trust and creating opportunity, one veteran at a time.  

At the heart of VOPA’s work is Veterans Grove, a newly opened community of fifteen Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible tiny homes surrounding a central community center. The campus offers transitional housing paired with a therapeutic community model that emphasizes peer support, accountability, and personal growth. Veterans receive individualized case management, healthcare navigation, clinical coordination, peer mentorship, life skills training, employment readiness, and connections to VA and community resources. 

Lisa Zimmerman, VOPA Board Vice Chair, shared that collaborations with organizations like Piedmont demonstrate a shared commitment to honoring and supporting veterans while helping them rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. 

“Community support means Veterans know they are not alone and have a network of people and organizations committed to helping them succeed,” she said. “For the Veterans we serve, community support provides encouragement, connection, and access to the resources needed to overcome barriers and build a stable future.” 

For Dale, the partnership reflects Piedmont’s values, and the 5K serves as an extension of how Piedmont team members take care of each other. He shared that being involved in employee resource groups has expanded his Piedmont family and connected him with people across the company he may not have met otherwise. This event has become a moment of unity for employees, bringing together runners, walkers, volunteers, and supporters who want to make a difference. 

Donations from the Left, Right, Left 5K directly fund transitional housing, meals, clinical support, healthcare navigation, peer mentorship, outreach services, and essential resources at VOPA that promote long term independence. Events like the 5K also raise awareness and bring people together to honor veterans and recognize the challenges they face. Dale said he hopes participants walk away with a sense of pride, sharing that “their participation has helped someone in need who, at one point in their lives, was willing to sacrifice their life for our safety and freedom.” 

Both the VMERG and VOPA share a vision for continued growth. Dale hopes the event continues to expand each year and encourages those who may not run to support the cause by donating, promoting the event, or encouraging others to participate. Lisa shared that every step taken during the 5K helps “empower those who have served our nation to reclaim their lives” through compassionate and coordinated care. Community members can continue supporting VOPA long after the event by volunteering, donating items through their online wish lists, joining their monthly giving program, spreading awareness, and staying engaged with future events and initiatives. 

As we look ahead to this year’s event, your involvement plays a direct role in helping us reach our goal of $30,000. Whether you join the run, make a donation, or encourage others to participate, every contribution moves this mission forward. Learn more and register for the Left Right Left 5K here.