The Veteran Drop-In Center invites veterans of all branches, eras, ages, gender or background to come and connect with their peers.

The center is open from 1 to 3 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month in a room at Redemption Hill, 332 S. Carpenter Ave. in Kingsford. There is no fee or membership obligation to attend.

The primary focus of the leadership team was to address the issue of isolation among veterans.

Team members Dr. AJ O’Sickey, a licensed clinical psychologist at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center, and co-worker Heidi Schiesser met more than a year ago to discuss ideas.

THE VETERAN DROP-IN Center leadership team members are, from left, Susie Carpiaux, Heidi Schiesser, Dr. AJ O’Sickey and Jill Mondloch. Not shown is Ben Hanks. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

“I was talking with a veteran after Thanksgiving, and asked him how his holiday was. He replied, ‘It was very lonely’ — that just broke my heart,'” said Schiesser, adding the man’s wife had recently passed away and children live out of the area.

His words really troubled Schiesser, as no veteran should have to experience such loneliness, she said.

“I had ideas going on in my head — first thinking of forming an activities department at the VA,” she said. “Somewhere along the way I came across drop-in centers. I thought, ‘This is perfect, this is exactly what we need.'”

She explained the drop-in center provides the opportunity for veterans to socialize, play games or enjoy a meal together, hopefully forming friendships in the process.

“Our hope is that this will lead to them doing activities outside of the drop-in center,” Schiesser said. “We want to give them something to look forward to.”

In addition to O’Sickey and Heidi Schiesser, team members include Susie Carpiaux, Ben Hanks and Jill Mondloch.

O’Sickey noted that while the majority of the team members are VAMC employees, the drop-in center is not affiliated with the facility.

The group is working in partnership with Upper Peninsula Commission For Area Progress — UPCAP — until they are able to establish their 501(c)(3) status.

“Our next goal is to obtain our non-profit status, so we are able to do the fundraising needed to expand our services,” Schiesser said.

The group thanked UPCAP and Veterans Program Manager Frank Lombard for helping make their ideas a reality.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without them,” O’Sickey said.

“He is a large wealth of knowledge,” Carpiaux added.

They also wouldn’t be able to provide the service without the space.

O’Sickey said Redemption Hill graciously stepped up to offer a room free of charge.

“A pure, beautiful place for connecting pure, beautiful people,” O’Sickey said.

“They have been really wonderful to us — extremely supportive and very generous,” Carpiaux added.

He noted that Redemption Hill’s pastor has also shared meetings and dinner with the congregation. “He will even come in and start coffee for us,” O’Sickey said. “They have truly embraced us here.”

The team hosted its first gathering in October. They’ve had three socials to date, as well as a Thanksgiving dinner.

“The meal was a huge success. We had 37 veterans and about 17 volunteers that took part,” Schiesser said.

They also delivered meals to those unable to make it to the drop-in center, O’Sickey said.

Although they are in the early stages, they have already had requests for opening more than once a month.

“We need to get the word out there right now to increase our attendance before we add any dates,” he said.

In the future, they hope to host different activities, such as movie night, outings and other special dinners.

Schiesser has also started a coffee social within her department at the VAMC that is open to any veteran.

“This gives them a little extra social time outside their own home,” she said.

Once they are able to obtain the funds, they hope to have a permanent facility that will allow them to offer more services, including a soup kitchen-type meal.

The team acknowledges veterans can have different, unique needs. The drop-in center will assist with finding other services and resources available to them in the community.

“This is information that they wouldn’t necessarily get when they are at the VA,” Schiesser said.

Carpiaux knows it will be hard to meet all the veterans’ needs, but they have big dreams and “even bigger hearts,” O’Sickey said.

“There’s only so much we can do right now, but we really want to run, yet we know we have to walk, but really want to run,” Carpiaux said.

Those who want more information or have questions can email dropincenterim@yahoo.com or go to the Veteran Drop-In Center of Iron Mountain Facebook page.