United Way launches campaign to help local veterans
Holly Tonini
Westmoreland County Commissioner Charles Anderson and his wife, Nancy Anderson, both retired from the United States Marine Corps, talk about Project SERVE.
John Lavery from AMVETS Post 103 in Hopwood is on the advisory committee.
The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania is hoping to raise $50,000 by April 30 as part of its new program, Project SERVE, which is dedicated to helping military veterans in Fayette and Westmoreland counties.
Bobbi Watt Geer, regional vice president of the southwestern Pennsylvania chapter of United Way, was on hand Tuesday at the official meeting to announce the launch of Project SERVE.
“This special campaign puts the spotlight on our local veterans’ needs,” she said, adding that the two counties are home to nearly 50,000 veterans.
“Many of these veterans are facing homelessness, dealing with mental health issues or facing unemployment,” Watt Geer said. “As we see the needs for our veterans increase, we must do more to make resources available.”
The plan is for Project SERVE to bring together all the best veteran programs that the communities have to offer, such as helping veterans find housing, job assistance, senior care, transportation and more.
The advisory committee will include Westmoreland County Commissioner Charles Anderson and his wife Nancy Anderson, both Marine Corps veterans; James Bendel with Saint Vincent College, Navy veteran; Judge John Driscoll, Navy veteran; John Lavery with the AMVETS Post 103 in Hopwood, a Marine Corps veteran; and Attorney John Ward, an Army veteran.
Anderson said there is a large community of veterans in the area.
“When they come home, we need to make sure we do everything we can to support them,” he said. “A lot have returned with afflictions, and we need to lift them up and do the best we can to support their great sacrifice.
“This is what this is all about — to show them that the community cares,” he added.
Ward said veterans gave up their time and their life with family and friends to accept their mission to protect our rights and ideals.
“When our veterans return, an adjustment has to be made, whether large or small, but none should fail to be addressed,” he said.
Lavery said he looks at this as another opportunity to help veterans.
Watt Geer said they have about 30 different veteran services organizations that they are partnering with as part of Project SERVE, including the Union Mission in Latrobe and Westmoreland County Community Action.
Dan Carney, executive director of Union Mission, said Tuesday they are excited to partner with United Way on this project because of the approach of bringing the community together to spotlight veteran concerns.
“At the end of the day, it’s about working with the guys,” he said.
Marine veteran Joe Boske attended Tuesday’s event to attest to the help he has received through Union Mission and why veteran programs are so important.
“It was in 2012 that I fell on hard times, and the Union Mission helped me for a little over a year until I got myself back into a good place,” he said. “Without the mission and their help, I wouldn’t be here today.”
He praised the formation of Project SERVE.
“There are a lot of us who need help, and hopefully we can get help this way,” Boske added.
Watt Geer said there are three ways to help.
“We want you personally to give, we want you to give through your businesses or corporations, and we need you to volunteer in our upcoming events,” she said.
Anyone who would like to donate or volunteer can find more information at unitedway4u.org.