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VFW Post raises $5K for Katrina victims
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Posted on Oct 05 2005
VFW Post 3457 managed to scrape together Friday night last week some $5,000 in a fundraising event held for Hurricane Katrina victims in the U.S. mainland.
Dubbed “Donate-A-Dollar VFW Hurricane Relief,” the fundraising added to the $3,500 in cash that has already been donated by private companies and friends, according to VFW Commander Barry Hirshbein. Several guests also brought in in-kind donations for the raffle.
VFW members donated a total of $1,000, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela donated $500, and other donors pledged cash ranging from $20 to $300.
Hirshbein said the fundraising activity was held simultaneously with other VFW Posts offices across the nation.
This comes on the heels of another fundraising activity that the VFW Post 3457 also held last month, to benefit children in the Philippines with harelip or cleft palates.
Hirshbein said that they were able to raise around $4,000 for that fundraiser and the money was used to fund the reconstructive surgery of children who were suffering from this congenital abnormality. He said the money was sufficient to perform 12 operations in the Philippines.
Hirshbein extended the local VFW Post’s sincere appreciation to the local community for the many donations it has received for its Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
“We, along with thousands of other posts around the world that held fundraising events this weekend, will send the donations to the VFW National organization,” said Hirshbein.
The next day, the group held a garage sale at the parking lot of the VFW Post 3457 office along Beach Road. The group sold items donated by community members.
Hirshbein said VFW Post 3457 would remit the funds raised to VFW posts that are providing food, shelter, clothing and other necessities for hurricane victims in the mainland.
He said those who still want to assist the hurricane victims may drop off their donations at the VFW Post Home on Beach Road any day after 4pm.
