Dear Friends & Supporters, At Swords to Plowshares, we believe that housing is the gateway to stable health. Getting a homeless veteran housed in a safe environment is key to reducing the daily stress on mind and body after living without a stable home and establishes the foundation for a path to self-sufficiency. A formerly homeless veteran, who receives housing and healthcare after years without access to support, can finally focus on addressing trauma and deteriorating health to start improving overall well-being. Housing and healthcare are critical services for veterans who are poor, elderly, and sick, but nutrition can often be an afterthought for these individuals. For our veterans with a limited income, finding a warm, healthy meal can present a daily challenge. Over the last few months, we have been able to supplement regular meals provided at two of our housing sites with a breakfast served by corporate volunteers twice a month. Also, thanks to food donations from Copia Foods, we have now been able to offer a meal to our homeless veterans who visit our Service Center. In this edition of our newsletter, you’ll hear about the incredible generosity of Craig Newmark and his support for our legal program’s effort to assist underrepresented veterans. Another feature is our Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Mike Lodge, a Coast Guard veteran who volunteers his time providing legal assistance to homeless and low-income veterans with disabilities. Also, you’ll learn about the impact our community organizer Bilal Mustafa, an Army veteran who organizes recreational activities for our residents. You’ll also see photos from the meals our wonderful corporate volunteers provide. You too can make an impact and support the lives of our veterans. Please join us in helping end the cycle of poverty and homelessness with a purchase of hygiene items for our homeless veterans, setting up a monthly recurring donation, or dedicating another gift to support our vital programs and services. Michael Blecker Executive Director Vietnam Combat Veteran U.S. Army 1967-1970

1. Michael Lodge wins
Pro Bono Partner
of the Year.
PAGE 6 →
1
Craig Newmark
Donation Spotlight
PAGE 4 →
FALL 2018
Inside
Swords

2. 2
INSIDE SWORDS
Dear
Friends &
Supporters,
At Swords to Plowshares, we believe that housing is the
gateway to stable health. Getting a homeless veteran
housed in a safe environment is key to reducing the daily
stress on mind and body after living without a stable
home and establishes the foundation for a path to self-
sufficiency. A formerly homeless veteran, who receives
housing and healthcare after years without access to
support, can finally focus on addressing trauma and
deteriorating health to start improving overall wellbeing.
Housing and healthcare are critical services for veterans
who are poor, elderly, and sick, but nutrition can often be
an afterthought for these individuals. For our veterans
with a limited income, finding a warm, healthy meal can present a daily challenge. Over
the last few months, we have been able to supplement regular meals provided at two of
our housing sites with a breakfast served by corporate volunteers twice a month. Also,
thanks to food donations from Copia Foods, we have now been able to offer a meal to our
homeless veterans who visit our Drop-in Center.
In this edition of our newsletter, you’ll hear about the incredible generosity of Craig
Newmark and his support for our legal program’s effort to assist underrepresented
veterans. Another feature is our Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Mike Lodge, a Coast Guard
veteran who volunteers his time providing legal assistance to homeless and low-income
veterans with disabilities.
Also, you’ll learn about the impact our community organizer Bilal Mustafa, an Army veteran
who organizes recreational activities for our residents. You’ll also see photos from the
meals our wonderful corporate volunteers provide.
You too can make an impact and support the lives of our veterans. Please join us in helping
end the cycle of poverty and homelessness with a purchase of hygiene items for our
homeless veterans, setting up a monthly recurring donation, or dedicating another gift to
support our vital programs and services.
Michael Blecker
Executive Director
Vietnam Combat Veteran
U.S. Army 1967-1970

3. FALL 2018
3
Donor Spotlight
Feature Story
Vets Helping Vets
Academy Breakfasts
Success Story
Partner Highlight
I N T H I S I S S U E
4
6
10
12
14
18

4. "We have a duty to stand with these brave
people,to offer a hand when they can’t catch
a break and to lend our voices when theirs
aren’t heard."

5. FALL 2018
5
FALL 2018
"We are excited to have the continued support
of Craig Newmark and his philanthropic
organization," said Michael Blecker, executive
director of Swords to Plowshares. "His guidance
has improved our organization’s ability to use
supportive technologies in conducting outreach
to homeless and low-income veterans. His most
recent donation, which funds an expansion of our
legal program, will positively impact the lives of
hundreds of veterans who are in need of our legal
advocacy."
"Veterans and military families deserve recognition
for their service year-round," said Craig Newmark.
"We have a duty to stand with these brave people,
to offer a hand when they can’t catch a break
and to lend our voices when theirs aren’t heard.
Swords to Plowshares’ legal program does just
that, and I’m proud to support its efforts to assist
underrepresented and vulnerable veterans."
Craig Newmark
Donation Supports Legal Advocacy
for Underrepresented Veterans
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
San Francisco-based entrepreneur Craig
Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark
Philanthropies, has become one of the most active
philanthropists and proponents of veterans in the
San Francisco Bay Area and across the nation.
Over the last five years, Craig has been one of
Swords to Plowshares’ most ardent supporters,
with over $400,000 in donations, including his
most recent grant of $160,000 from Craig Newmark
Philanthropies to support our legal program’s efforts
to assist underrepresented and vulnerable veterans.
For underserved veterans, including women
veterans and those with less than honorable
discharges, Swords to Plowshares’ Legal Services
department provides free consultation and attorney
representation to help them remedy an unjust
military discharge status and access benefits,
including healthcare, disability support, and
homeless-prevention services. These critical VA
benefits increase economic opportunity and
long-term stability for veterans with
service-connected disabilities.
Beyond Craig’s generous financial support, he
continues to provide professional expertise as a
member of Swords to Plowshares’ Advisory Board.
Craig works with our communications team to
amplify our voice online, thereby raising awareness
of veterans’ needs and advancing our policy efforts
at the local, state, and national levels.

6. 6
INSIDE SWORDS
Mike Lodge, senior counsel at Chevron, was
named the Bill Brockett Pro Bono Attorney of the
Year by Swords to Plowshares on September 20,
2018 for his outstanding work with veterans. The
annual award is presented to a volunteer attorney
for his or her outstanding service to veterans and
dedication to Swords to Plowshares’ Veterans Pro
Bono Program. The award is named in memory of
William “Bill” Brockett Jr., who co-founded Keker,
Van Nest & Peters LLP along with John Keker.
Mike Lodge served in the U.S. Coast Guard (1984-
2012) as a deck watch officer before going to law
school in the Coast Guard and later serving as a
prosecutor and military judge on the Coast Guard
Court of Criminal Appeals. After retiring from the
Coast Guard, Mike landed a job with Chevron as a
regulatory affairs and advocacy coordinator before
moving up to senior counsel.
Not too long after Mike started at Chevron, the
company launched their pro bono program and
selected Swords to Plowshares as one of their
Mike Lodge at award reception
Mike Lodge Named Bill Brocket
Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
FEATURE STORY
Pro Bono legal reception at Keker,Van Nest & Peters LLP

7. FALL 2018
7
premier partners. A colleague of Mike’s was on
Swords to Plowshares’ pro bono advisory board
and recruited him to participate.
With Mike’s experience as a former prosecutor
and military judge, he was a natural fit to help
provide legal assistance to veterans trying to
obtain VA benefits. Mike already had an extensive
record of pro bono service, having previously
worked with domestic violence survivors.
However, volunteering with Swords to Plowshares
was his first experience working with veterans
outside of his time serving in the Coast Guard.
As a former base executive officer (XO), Mike
had been involved in numerous administrative
discharge proceedings for military service
members and identified two problematic issues
with this process. One is that due to the expedient
nature of the administrative discharge process,
service members can be separated from the
military for relatively minor mistakes or errors
in judgment. The other issue is that later in life,
these individuals have recognized how their less
than honorable discharge status affects their
career aspirations and personal life. They often
want to rectify the mistakes of their youth through
the military discharge upgrade process.
Mike’s first pro bono case was with a young
decorated Marine who suffered from PTSD
and had been self-medicating with drugs and
alcohol during and after his time in the military.
Thanks to the help of a Chevron colleague who
partnered with Mike on the case, they obtained a
100 percent service-connected disability rating
through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),
resulting in a significant amount of payback
for this veteran. He is extremely grateful for
this assistance, and as a result of the win, he is
now in a stable living environment and gainfully
employed.
(Left to right) Michael Blecker, Mike Lodge, & John Keker

8. 8
INSIDE SWORDS
As a direct result of this pro bono win, Mike
started to encourage other colleagues to
participate and partnered with a second colleague
to take on an additional case for Swords to
Plowshares. Currently, they are working with a
Vietnam-era veteran to help him navigate the
complex VA disability claims process.
Besides directly representing veterans with their
VA claims, Mike has also staffed numerous legal
clinics in Oakland and Menlo Park. These free
legal clinics are often the first time veterans are
able to meet with attorneys trained in VA law and
receive expert advice on pursuing their VA claim.
They also learn about the other programs and
supportive services Swords to Plowshares may be
able to offer in addition to legal assistance.
“Being able to help veterans under Swords to
Plowshares' Pro Bono Program has been a great
and humbling experience,” said Mike.
“We’re thrilled to honor Mike with our Bill Brockett
Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award for 2018,”
said Swords to Plowshares’ Legal Director Kate
Richardson. “Mike has been a dedicated and
enthusiastic volunteer since he started with the
program several years ago. In addition to staffing
multiple legal clinics with Swords to Plowshares,
Mike has taken on four individual cases and has
secured a significant win for one of his veteran
clients. Mike also serves as an active member
of our Pro Bono Advisory Board. We are deeply
appreciative of Mike’s ongoing commitment to the
legal needs of our community’s homeless and
low-income veterans.”
About Swords to Plowshares:
Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares
is a community-based not-for-profit
organization that provides counseling and
case management, rapid re-housing and
eviction prevention services, employment and
training, supportive housing, and legal benefits
assistance for low-income, homeless, and
at-risk veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Swords to Plowshares promotes and protects
the rights of veterans through advocacy, public
education, and partnerships with local, state,
and national entities. Learn more about the
work of Swords to Plowshares, and ways in
which you can help, by visiting our website at
http://www.swords-to-plowshares.org.
About Chevron:
Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated
energy companies. Through its subsidiaries
that conduct business worldwide, the company
is involved in virtually every facet of the energy
industry. Chevron explores for, produces, and
transports crude oil and natural gas; refines,
markets, and distributes transportation
fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells
petrochemicals and additives; generates
power and produces geothermal energy;
and develops and deploys technologies that
enhance business value in every aspect of the
company’s operations. Chevron is based in San
Ramon, CA. More information about Chevron is
available at www.chevron.com.
“I have a lot of pride in being a veteran,and I
can’t thank Swords to Plowshares enough for
what they do,” Mike said.

9. LaJune Davis (above)
9
Hygiene Essentials Keep
Veterans Clean and Healthy
Purchasing from this wish list will ship items directly to our offices for immediate
distribution to the veterans assisted by Swords to Plowshares each day. Please
consider a purchase from the Dollar Days wish list to help veterans at Swords to
Plowshares as they work toward self-sufficiency.
Drop-In Coordinator LaJune Davis knows simple items such
as soap,toothbrushes,and fresh socks are essential to the
veterans she sees every day.“Keeping clean when you’re
living on the street is difficult. We provide as much as we
can to the veterans that come in and ask for hygiene items.”
www.swords-to-plowshares.org/dollar-days
FOR MORE INFORMATION
SWORDS-TO-PLOWSHARES.ORG
STAY CONNECTED
@vetshelpingvets
Items for purchase can be made at:

10. 10
INSIDE SWORDS
INSIDE SWORDS
Bilal Mustafa served in the U.S. Navy as a
boatswain mate and air traffic controller
from 1984-1988. Bilal comes from a family
with a rich history of military service:
his grandfather was a WWII veteran who
served in the U.S. Army, his dad and uncle
both served over 20 years in the U.S. Navy,
another uncle served in the U.S. Army, and
two brothers also served around the same
time as Bilal in the U.S. Army and U.S.
Navy as well.
Joining the military seemed like a natural
fit for Bilal given his family legacy.
However, Bilal ended up leaving the Navy
after his four-year enlistment to pursue
other passions as a civilian. He began
working with inner city youth, families, and
incarcerated men. But for the most part,
Bilal never really had interactions with the
military and veteran community outside
of his family. That all changed when Bilal
met an older veteran while attending the
memorial service of a family friend. They
got to talking after the service and the
older veteran talked about veteran benefits
and encourage Bilal to finally get plugged
into the VA system.
Bilal took the older veteran's advice
and finally—after 25 years—decided
to enroll at his local VA. At the time of
enrollment, Bilal was working to regain his
independence as a divorced father of six
children. Bilal was fortunate enough to
have the support of friends who let him
and his family stay with them as he worked
towards stability.
VETS HELPING VETS
Bilal Mustafa
Getting to Know the Community Organizer
The VA helped Bilal by referring him to the
Supportive Services for Veterans Families
(SSVF) program at Swords to Plowshares
in order to get help securing a home of
his own. Bilal was then referred to our
Employment and Training staff, where one
of our employment specialists suggested
a position as a Program Monitor with our
organization. As a veteran with previous
experience in community organizing and
working with underrepresented populations,
he was a natural fit for our “vets helping
vets” model.
After spending some time as a Program
Monitor, a full-time Community Organizer
position opened at Swords to Plowshares.
Bilal was encouraged to apply for the role
by a fellow staff member. Bilal interviewed
for the job and was selected due to his
experience and great rapport with veteran
residents. As Community Organizer, Bilal
organizes activities for our veteran residents
like bowling, fishing, karaoke, bingo, bay
cruises, congregate meals, and sporting
events. The programs and activities Bilal
develops and manages for our residents aim
to get our veterans active and involved in
their communities.
“I have always loved to help people. The
best part of this job is watching how people
transform and change their lives,” Bilal
said. “It’s simply amazing to not just watch
this process, but also to help someone
overcome the challenges of addiction or
homelessness and seeing them prosper.”

11. "The best part of this job is
watching how people transform
and change their lives."

12. 12
INSIDE SWORDS
At the Veterans Academy, the first-ever permanent supportive housing for veterans in the
country, we provide one free congregate meal to residents daily. Located in The Presidio
National Park, access to food and dining is limited in the area, this critically important
program ensures residents a nutritional, healthy option and helps address isolation.
Over the last few months, we have been able to supplement our meal program with a
monthly breakfast served by corporate volunteers from JP Morgan Chase and Lucasfilm
Ltd. These monthly breakfasts have given our veterans an additional opportunity to
receive a nutritious meal and serve as an important social function that promotes positive
interactions and reduces isolation among residents.
Academy Breakfast
JP Morgan Chase and Lucasfilm Ltd.Volunteer at the Academy
VeteransAcademyresident,JackFong

13. 13
Veteran residents, Swords to Plowshares staff, and volunteers pictured above

14. 14
INSIDE SWORDS
Winston Nichols, a Philadelphia native,
served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne
Division from 1977 to 1987. After spending
a decade in the infantry, Winston left
the Army as a staff sergeant and began
his transition to civilian life with his then
wife and children. Winston struggled with
alcohol dependence after his time in the
military and jumped around from job to job
after leaving service.
Winston’s alcohol addiction eventually
destroyed his marriage of over 20 years,
his relationship with his children, and led
to the loss of his job. This series of events
led Winston to face the harsh reality of
homelessness. He started out on the East
Coast, bouncing around from town to town
and staying with friends, at hotels, or on the
streets before making it out to California.
Winston eventually found himself in the
Central Valley and checked into the Fresno
VA Medical Center for issues pertaining
to his eyesight. While seeking treatment,
it was discovered that Winston had
glaucoma and cataracts in his eyes and
that he needed a referral to see various
eye specialists at the San Francisco
VA Medical Center for further medical
recommendations. With Winston being
homeless and having no reliable mode
of transportation to make his initial
appointment in San Francisco, traveling
presented quite the challenge for Winston.
However, he ended up finding a way to get
to the city.
During his referral appointment, the doctor
discovered that Winston was not sober at
the time and informed him that he needed
to obtain sobriety before proceeding
with treatment for his eye conditions. His
eye specialist didn't turn Winston away,
instead the doctor referred Winston to the
Fresh Start program for substance abuse
treatment. Winston went through a nine-
month program, got clean and sober, and
was able to receive treatment for his eye
conditions as a result. During this time,
he lost one eye and had it replaced with
a glass one at the VA and had surgery
to put an artificial lens in his other eye.
These surgeries led Winston to being
designated as legally blind. Having been
homeless for over a year, coupled with his
significant visual impairments, Winston was
considered a high-priority candidate for
permanent supportive housing.
Winston ended up being referred to Swords
to Plowshares for placement at an
ADA-accessible unit at the Veterans
Commons. With his housing situation now
stable, Winston has continued to seek
treatment for his eye conditions and has
maintained his sobriety for over three years,
thanks to the supportive services provided
by Swords to Plowshares and the VA.
Back on the Right Beat
Veteran Gives Back though Music

15. 15
"Thanks to Swords to
Plowshares, the VA, and my
church, I’ve not only found hope,
but can now help others."

16. 16
INSIDE SWORDS
Despite losing most of his sight, Winston
is still an avid gym enthusiast and loves
to serve up some drum beats on his five-
piece set. Winston is often caught playing
multiple times a week somewhere on Market
Street or on Sundays playing at his church’s
services. Winston’s love extends far beyond
his music, as he continues to give back to
others facing homelessness by donating any
money he earns from his music.
"What I'm doing is a small thing, but it is
helping people who are homeless and letting
other people know, whether they're veterans
or not, there is a way out of this disease of
alcohol and drugs," Winston said. "Thanks
to Swords to Plowshares, the VA, and my
church, I’ve not only found hope, but can
now help others."
Winston playing his drums on 5th and Market Streets Winston (middle) and his first wife on their wedding day

17. FALL 2018
17
Dear Supporters,
We made the difficult decision not to go ahead with hosting our 22nd Annual Veterans Day
Dinner scheduled for November 8th as planned. Our annual event, which we’ve held in
honor of Veterans Day, will be postponed until January 17, 2019.
We have hosted our annual gala for several years at the Palace Hotel and our reservation
has been in place for nearly a year. The venue is under Marriott management. You may
have heard that workers have been on strike for more than two weeks. With no progress
toward a new contract, 7,000 workers took to the streets of San Francisco in protest.
As an organization that serves primarily low-income veterans — many of whom work in
lower wage and/or hourly positions like these hotel workers, we cannot in good conscience
cross the picket line. We have no reason to believe that a new contract will be negotiated
prior November 8th. After careful consideration, we determined the best option for our
organization and supporters was to postpone our event until January 17, 2019.
Veterans Day is an appropriate day for such a celebration, but so is any day. Veterans
are out on the streets every day and night, and Swords is out there year-round working
to address veteran homelessness. We are grateful to all of our supporters. You can still
support this annual event.
To purchase tickets or make a donation, visit
www.swords-to-plowshares.org/veterans-day

18. 18
INSIDE SWORDS
Mark Jeffrey, a San Diego native, served in the U.S. Air Force (1993-1995), as a medical
supply specialist. Since leaving the military, Mark hasn’t had the easiest life, and just
over two years ago ended up homeless. During this experience, Mark has tried to use
the shelter system as much as possible to stay off the streets, but with the waitlist and
need being so great in San Francisco, there have been many times he has had to resort to
sleeping outside.
Since Mark only served two years in the military, he doesn’t qualify for most veteran
benefits and receives only general assistance as a result. Due to his current homelessness
and limited income, finding a warm, healthy meal has been a daily challenge for Mark and
his health has suffered.
While bouncing around the San Francisco’s shelter system, he was eventually referred to
Swords to Plowshares, which serves all veterans, no matter their length of military service
or what era they may have served in.
Ending Hunger with Copia
Receiving a Nutritious Meal is One Less Worry for this Homeless Veteran
Mark Jeffrey (above)
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

19. FALL 2018
19
Mark walked into Swords to Plowshares’ Drop-in Center for help with his lack of
housing and found out about the support groups offered. While seeking help, Mark
discovered that Swords to Plowshares has a food program for veterans currently
facing homelessness and now had a healthier option for his meals.
The food program at the Drop-in Center is a new service at Swords to Plowshares
and has only been around since early 2018. This program was created as a response
to the need of providing nutritious meals to veterans facing homelessness. Thanks to
donations from Copia™ and other community partners, this program has continued to
expand since its inception.
“My doctors told me I needed to stop eating processed foods to improve my health,
and that had been a significant challenge for me,” Mark said. “But now, the challenge
of finding a healthy, tasty meal is a bit less daunting, since Swords to Plowshares
provides great options with their food program at their main office.”
Photos courtesy of Copia website

20. Swords to Plowshares
1060 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
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Ways To Give
Swords to Plowshares serves nearly 3,000 local veterans each year thanks to the generosity of individual,
corporate, and foundation donors. These resources help us address ongoing and unexpected needs for
homeless and at-risk veterans in the Bay Area. Swords to Plowshares is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, and donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law.
The Annual Fund
The Annual Fund provides immediate resources that
we can invest in the areas of greatest need.
Honor and Memorial Gifts
This is a special way to honor a veteran or celebrate
someone important to you by making a tribute gift in
their name.
Monthly Donations
A recurring monthly donation is convenient and can
fit better into your budget by spreading a donation
over a period of time.
Matching Gifts
Many employers have a matching program that can
double or even triple your gift. Talk to your human
resources department for more information.
Donor-Advised Funds
Swords to Plowshares can be a recipient of your
philanthropy by directing a gift to us from a
donor-advised fund.
Planned Giving
By including Swords to Plowshares in your will or
trust, you will leave a personal legacy and give back
to veterans for decades to come.
To make a gift, complete and mail the enclosed envelope or visit our website at
https://www.swords-to-plowshares.org/donate/fall-winter/