Under a gazebo surrounded by a memorial to America’s veterans at the Council on Aging, The Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly donated $5,000 on June 30 to the Veterans Transition House in New Bedford.

“Our veterans are special to us,’’ said Friends of the Elderly president Maria Connor, adding that the money was donated, “in memory of those who are gone and to take care of those who are here.’’

The donation fits in with the Veterans Transition House’s ongoing “Hope for Heroes” campaign, which began on Memorial Day and runs through July 4, said James Reid, executive director of Veterans Transition House, which is headquartered at 1297 Purchase St. in New Bedford.

The Veterans Transition House, founded in 1990, provides transitional and permanent housing and supportive services to homeless, formerly homeless and at-risk veterans in southeastern Massachusetts. 

In 2020, the organization completed a $10 million expansion, including the rehabilitation of two structures and the construction of two buildings along one city block.

The building now has the capacity to house 135 homeless veterans, serve 125 meals a day, and provide outreach services to local veterans. The Hope for Heroes campaign helps to support these services, according to the house website.

As part of this expansion, organizers chose to provide both a commercial kitchen and a cafeteria to allow the veterans to eat together and share meals and camaraderie, Reid said, rather than having meals delivered to individual rooms.

Serving meals in a group setting is important, Reid said, particularly since so many people felt more isolated during the pandemic.

“It’s important that we can break bread with each other,’’ he said.

“This is fantastic,’’Veterans Advisory Board Chair Chris Perreira said. “Maria and the Friends of the Elderly are so supportive of the veterans not only in Dartmouth’’ but throughout the area, he said. “This is so important for veterans in a vulnerable point in their lives.’’

Fellow board member Jason Ray agreed.

“The Veterans Transition House is an important tool for our veterans, especially ones who are coming home,’’ he said. “To have such a great organization willing to help us is wonderful.’’

The transition house also received a $1,000 donation from Stonegate Mortgage, which was presented to Reid by Milena Mello, an employee of Stonegate Mortgage and a board member of Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly. 

To make a donation, visit www.vetshouse.org/donate-now.