UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - It is expected to be a one stop shop for the needs of local veterans, and now, the future Utica Vets Center is a little closer to opening.

The old YMCA on Genesee Street is already housing some county programs, but the planned Vets Center within the building has a ways to go before it opens.

On Sunday, members of the newly formed Veterans Clubs of both M.V.C.C. and SUNY-IT volunteered to continue progress that has already been made by other volunteer organizations.

Volunteers sorted clothing that has been donated, cleaned and painted chairs that will be used in the center's new internet café which is expected to open on Veteran's Day.

The second and third floor are expected to be turned into temporary lodging for returning veterans that don't have current lodging. The first floor is going to be different departments to help veterans get back on their feet when they come back from war.

Jonathan Meeter who is a psychology professor at M.V.C.C. donated his time on Sunday. He says when he came back from Vietnam, he was not welcomed back home, "Well in the 70's there wasn't support for Vietnam, some of us got off of planes and had stuff thrown at us actually if you remember from the news back them, it's almost as if it was the servicemen's fault."

That statement is a big reason why Meeter is in MV's Veteran's Club and is volunteering to help get the Utica Vets Center up and running, "Each person comes back and maybe thinks they're alone and we want them to know, we've been through this, there's other people in town."

Meeter says when the center is open, it will be a symbol for returning service men and women, "A symbol that when they come back, there's a place they can plug back in and get their needs met, they come back hurting, sometimes not having medical care and need help getting it."