St. Patrick Center hosting 11th annual Veterans Day 5K to combat veteran homelessness across St. Louis region

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The St. Patrick Center is hosting its 11th annual Veterans Day 5K Run/Walk this Saturday, November 7th at Soldiers Memorial in Downtown St. Louis.

The annual event serves as the organization’s second-largest fundraiser of the year, directly supporting housing, employment, and wellness initiatives for unhoused and at-risk veterans.

Chris Stephen, executive director of the St. Patrick Center, said the transition out of the military can often present unexpected hurdles for service members returning home.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to be able to honor and celebrate and thank the veterans who have done so much to serve our country,” Stephen said. “There are so many who struggle when they come back, get out of the service and come back into normal life who find that it’s difficult to make that adjustment. And some may find themselves unhoused.”

The St. Patrick Center serves as one of the largest providers for unhoused veterans across eastern Missouri and southern Illinois, covering the City of St. Louis and 11 surrounding counties. Last year...