In 2010, Penny Lambright put every penny of her inheritance into founding an organization for veterans in need. Now, her creation, Patriots and Paws, has helped more than 8,000 vets furnish their homes. And the pandemic hasn’t slowed them down one bit.

Patriots and Paws provides practical home furnishing for any veteran, active duty, and reserve throughout Southern California. 

What You Need To Know

  • Patriots and Paws provides practical home furnishing for any veteran, active duty and reserve throughout Southern California

  • The charity operates out of a warehouse in Anaheim. Lambright collects donated household items like gently used sofas, sheets, and silverware

  • The organization has served over 8,000 families since it started, and, last year they helped 1,150 families

  • If you would like to donate items or sign up to volunteer, head over to patriotsandpaws.org

“It does not matter their rank and discharge status. If they can show proof or service, we help them with practical things for their home,” said the founder and CEO of Patriots and Paws, Penny Lambright.

The charity operates out of a warehouse in Anaheim.

“We are a large warehouse that is 7,700 square feet, and everything you can imagine that you need is here. We have lamps, dishes, pots, pans, tables, and we give them the dignity and hope to pick it out. They get to sit on the couch to try it out. We always ask them to do a butt test to make sure it is comfortable for them before they take it home,” added Lambright.

Lambright said the donors are the electricity, they are the conduits, and the veterans are the lamps.

“We have served over 8,000 families since we started at the end of 2011. And, last year, we helped 1,150 families. We remained open to serve our veterans during COVID. We have not closed down,” Lambright added.

When veterans come home from deployment, they are not really taught how to reintegrate back into life. 

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“It could take one little thing to take you off course. And, so many of our veterans do not feel like civilians appreciate what they do. A lot of people think the government will take care of them, and they do not. When they are out, they are out on their own. There are many great organizations out there helping them get housing, get jobs, and help them with legal issues. But, there really is not anybody else doing what we do in the capacity that we do it,” said Lambright.

Lambright has also built a fence out of pallets that she calls the “Leave Your Burden Behind” wall.

"We allow people to write things out there, and it is amazing. We truly feel like when they do that, they leave that behind and start a new adventure in their life," she said.

If you would like to donate items or sign up to volunteer, head over to patriotsandpaws.org