NATCHEZ — The Miss-Lou offers a number of services for veterans.

But gaps in those services exist, and that’s where the Home With Heroes Foundation Inc., wants to step in.

“We did not want to duplicate what other fine veterans organizations — such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, and others — were doing, but we wanted to fulfill needs that we identified were necessary for veterans in the Miss-Lou,” founder Mark LaFrancis said.

“We decided to dedicate ourselves to veterans and their loved ones, and in a way that we felt would be a direct benefit, meaning we wanted to raise funds and disburse almost 100 percent of the funds to fulfill the needs the veterans and loved ones have.”

That decision was finalized in 2013, after nearly a year of conversation between LaFrancis and Jimmy Allgood, the foundation’s vice president.

Since then, the foundation has done things such as purchase gas cards, clothing and food for veterans, helped pay rent in emergency situations, conducted renewal retreats for combat or near-combat veterans, donated to veterans scholarships and other causes, visited nursing homes and taken veterans on day trips to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, among other things.

The group also works to partner with the existing veterans organizations in the area.

“I am the grandson of a WWI veteran, son of a WWII veteran, I served 23 years myself, I have a brother who served, a nephew, cousins and friends, so representing the country in uniform has been part of my life. I pride myself on associating with veterans,” LaFrancis said.

“Our organization prides itself that no one receives any compensation. We are 100-percent volunteer, and none of the programs we offer do we ask for any money from the veterans.”

For the coming year, Home With Heroes is in the process of identifying a physical location for a food pantry and clothing bank that could also be a drop-in coffee club for veterans, LaFrancis said.

The organization is also putting together a “visit a vet” program and a “helping hands for vets” program that would include doing light yardwork or other household repairs for veterans who cannot handle the tasks on their own, LaFrancis said.

Those who wish to help can donate money or join the Home With Heroes support team, which is currently 40 people strong, LaFrancis said.

“The support team members can bag gifts for veterans, they can help us at fundraisers, serve as escorts for veterans to the museum, they can be volunteers for our retreats or they can just sign up for new initiatives,” he said.

“And I would encourage anyone who, if they know a vet in need, I urge them to contact us.”

For more information, contact LaFrancis at 601-442-0980 or visit homewithheroes.org.