Helping Florida’s Hurricane Victims

BY THOMAS R. SNOOK

After Hurricane Irma roared through Florida in September, members of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Chapter 1061 felt compelled to do something to help their brothers and sisters there. They contacted Kimmissee, Florida, Chapter 755 and asked what they could do and the best way to get it done.

Chapter 755 recommended that they work with the Osceola Council on Aging, which was helping the people in the area and had a facility and personnel to handle the supplies. When Chapter 1061 contacted the council, they already were helping 131 families recover from the storm.

The Harrisonburg chapter conducted a two-week drive to collect supplies and donations to help fellow veterans. VVA life member Bill Strang, the president and CEO of TSSI, made a warehouse available to use as a collection point and staging area.

During that brief period, Chapter 1061 collected seven thousand pounds of supplies, as well as $1,100 in cash. Goods Trucking provided a truck and driver to haul the supplies to Florida. On October 2, Chapter 1061 members accompanied the truck to Florida to help distribute the supplies and help in any other way they could. They also met with members of the Kimmissee chapter.

The supplies were distributed to VVA members and anyone else needing help.

Tom Snook is the secretary of Harrisonburg Chapter 1061.