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www.shelbyinfo.com Our 42ND Year • Issue No. 48 • November 26, 2025
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Veteran Stability Initiative to hold winter clothing giveaways By Alan Hodge The Veteran Stability Initiative organization has two winter clothing giveaway events dubbed “Operation Winter Relief” coming up on December 4th and 6th. On the 4th, winter gear will be available for pickup in Shelby at Trailhead Resources, 318 Gidney St. In Kings Mountain on December 6th, the event will be at The Marketplace, 405 S. Battleground Ave. from 11am to 9pm. Items folks can avail themselves to include coats, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, and more. The articles are not reserved just for veterans but are available to anyone in need. A significant number of articles were lovingly handcrafted and donated by Shelby’s Loops of Love crochet group. The colorful and cozy collection of scarves, hats, gloves, and socks filled a huge bag. The City of Shelby Police Dept. served as one drop-off
location for the hundreds of warm items that were donated. Shelby PD Capt. Chris Flowers talked about the role the department plays not just in Operation Winter Relief but in other similar endeavors. “I think Operation Winter Relief is awesome,” Flowers said. “The department has always been community-driven. We want to serve in a capacity connecting resources to those in need and are happy to do it.” So, what is Veteran Stability Initiative? It’s a group that was founded in 2023 by U.S. Army veteran Martin Kemp to help other veterans adjust to the challenges of returning to civilian life. He drew inspiration and determination from his own experiences coming home after combat service in Afghanistan “I know first-hand how hard it can be to start your life over from scratch after service, and how hard it can be to get to a place of stability. I know a lot of
Veteran Stability Initiative president and founder Martin Kemp with City of Shelby Police Capt. Chris Flowers and some of the winter supplies that were collected at the PD.
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Over 90 Years!
Veteran Stability Initiative visited the Leona Neal Senior Center in Shelby to join the Veterans Discussion Group — an inspiring circle of heroes who’ve served our nation with courage and sacrifice. (Photos provided) start Veteran Stability Initiative. My whole idea behind the organization is instead of waiting for the government to help, it is better to help each other. That way, more people get helped.” The upc o m i n g winter gear Kemp (right) and Veteran Stability Initiative volunteer Dr. Chuck Lampley, with a truckload giveaway is of supplies bound for Hurricane Helene just one thing victims last year. that Veteran said. “We took them to a church Stability Initiative has been involved in in Black Mountain that was set locally. In 2024, Kemp and vol- up as a distribution center.” Other ways that Veteran unteers loaded a pickup truck Last spring, Veteran Stability Stability Initiative has pitched with supplies for Hurricane HeInitiative set up a table at the in includes helping with resume lene victims. Foothills Farmers Market. In building and job interview skills. “We collected and purthis photo, Kemp (left) is seen greeting a veteran. See CLOTHING, Page 11 chased items in Shelby,” Kemp
my brothers’ lives could have turned out very differently if they knew of all the services available to help them. I also witnessed other veterans having trouble transitioning to the civilian market when they left the military,” he said. “So, after working with veterans in different organizations I decided to
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