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Rainy outdoor weather on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 9th, might have shown signs of dreariness.

However, an enlightened indoor atmosphere decorated a table at Broadway Cafe on 26 E. Broadway Street.

Nearly a dozen military veterans and supporters arrived at 9:00 a.m. for breakfast and fellowship.

“We started this three or four months ago,” said Robert Pritchett, owner and operator of Bargains on Broadway & Cafe. “They were needing a small meeting place to have coffee, have a meeting, [and] sit around and talk where it’s nice and quiet. So, we said ‘Sure!’”

The event, officially called Coffee Time with Veterans, has been taking place at different locations nationwide with the hope in mind to gather veterans in a place for support.

While men and women were welcome, Lady Veterans Connect – an organization that’s dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive service to female veterans in multiple ways – hosted the event.

Though the organization – located at the former site of Trapp Elementary School at 11400 Irvine Road – can house 32 female veterans, it continually looks for volunteers, such as social workers, to provide aid and support.

According to Phyllis Abbott, the executive director and founder of Lady Veterans Connect, such meetings have benefitted mental health among those who’ve served.

“It’s been effective in reducing the number of suicide and depression among veterans…[this] is really our purpose of doing this,” Abbot said. “We want to grow and expand it and make it a comfortable environment for veterans to come together.”

Some of the veterans present were names known around Clark County.

For example, Roy Hudson – a U.S. Army veteran and member of the Democratic Committee of Clark County Elections – appeared.

Army veteran Mike Bates, who works with Chapter 12 of Disabled American Veterans, also appeared.

Greg Yates, an Army veteran who also works with Chapter 12 of Disabled American Veterans and is well-known throughout the community as executive director of Partners in Education, has been attending such meetings regularly.

“I want to get to know any veteran I can and help give them information,” Yates said. “It’s all about connecting…it just made sense for me to get involved.”

Both Lady Veterans Connect and Chapter 12 of Disabled American Veterans continue to find various ways to assist others, such as contacting the local Veterans Administration.

Lady Veterans Connect plans to continue holding Coffee Time with Veterans on the first Tuesday of each month, with January being an exception due to holidays.

For Pritchett, an opportunity to help those willing to sacrifice is highly worthwhile.

“Every one of us should stop [and] thank them,” he said. “Without what they do, we couldn’t do what we do every day.”