Watertown Not Your Average Joe's to Participate in Outreach for Homeless Veterans

Every Tuesday in October, diners at the 16 Not Your Average Joe’s restaurants across Massachusetts and Rhode Island– including here in Watertown -- can dedicate 15% of their lunch and dinner bills to the New England Center for Homeless Veterans (NECHV). “All people have to do is download a coupon from the New England Center for Homeless Veterans website and tell their waitperson that they want to donate to help homeless Veterans,” says Watertown activist Sonia Boyajian, who approached the restaurant team with the idea. “Not Your Average Joe’s ownership jumped at the chance to support Veterans. People want to help, but we all get busy. This is a way people can enjoy a great meal they were already going to have, and by simply bringing in the coupon and mentioning it to their server, they will be helping to end Veterans’ homelessness.Easy and impactful!” The coupon is available for downloading (hard copy or on a smartphone) at www.NECHV.org or at www.notyouraveragejoes.com/Watertown/ and must be presented at the time of service.

First Lady Michelle Obama calls Veteran homelessness a “stain on our souls.” Massachusetts has committed to be the first state in the nation to end homelessness among Veterans by the end of 2015, and this commitment from the 16 Not Your Average Joe’s restaurants in New England will make a tremendous impact. Over 1000 Veterans, who come from all over the country, are served each year by the New England Center for Homeless Veterans; there are nearly 58,000 homeless Veterans in the United States.

“We are grateful to Sonia Boyajian and Not Your Average Joe’s for their outstanding support of the Center and the Veterans we serve,” said NECHV President and CEO C. Andrew McCawley. “Giving our Veterans a place of their own, a home, is probably the most important thing we can do for them. We encourage participation and hope that every person who eats at Not Your Average Joe’s in October will take these easy steps and use this opportunity to help Veterans,” he added.

To locate one of the 16 Not Your Average Joe’s restaurants In New England, please visit www.notyouraveragejoes.com.

For more information on this effort and to contribute, please call 617-489-5110.