NEW JERSEY VETERANS NETWORK IN ACTION
/NEW JERSEY VETERANS NETWORK IN ACTION
By: Michael D. Boll
The New Jersey Veterans Network (NJVN) is a mobile outreach team that aggressively seeks out veterans in need. For our charity to be successful, we need to have teammates who love our veterans the same as we do. Both Joe Motes, owner of the Red Cadillac Restaurant, and Paul Carvalho, owner of Paul’s Garage, are two men who have always put others first and constantly help our veterans live a better way of life.
Joseph Montes has been with the NJVN since its creation. I met Joe in 2014 and have worked with him and the Red Cadillac ever since. Joe and the members of the restaurant are a family that treats people like they are a part of the family. Joe has so much respect for our veterans that he feels obligated to host regular feeding events for the men and women who have served our great nation.
For the last few years, Joe and the Red Cadillac family have hosted various feeding events for disabled veterans from nearly all the VA shelters and memorial homes. Also, they delivered food directly to disabled veterans who were unable to get to the restaurant. Providing food is not the only thing that Joe and Red Cadillac do for our veterans; they have purchased numerous pieces of equipment for our recreational therapy activities. Over the years, Joe has hired veterans and has helped them get through some difficult times. Our charity is blessed to have the Red Cadillac in our family.
Paul Carvalho joined the team in the beginning as well. I met Paul when he reached out to me about donating a newer car to a disabled veteran. Paul and his employees have been providing car repair assistance to veterans for a long time. They have always gone out of their way to help veterans and show them gratitude for serving our country. However, Paul and his staff have done a lot more for veterans by hosting fundraising events and donating money for our recreational therapy activities. Paul also has hired veterans and treats his entire staff like family. The NJVN couldn’t be happier to be a part of this family as well
Even though both Joe and Paul aren’t veterans, the NJVN is fortunate to have teammates like this who step up and help our uniformed heroes live a better way of life.
If you are interested in joining the team, please send me your name, email and phone number to NJVN1775@gmail.com or call us at (973)332-1556
Michael D. Boll is a retired police sergeant in NJ. He previously served as a United States Marine and is a Gulf War veteran. He is the founder of Operation Rebound Racing Team, a nonprofit organization that helps wounded veterans and first responders enjoy a better quality of life.
