NIAGARA network
Helping People Move Forward with Their Lives.
Giving Back
To Those
Who Served
Veterans, You Are Not Alone
Have you looked around lately and noticed your local area nonprofits that serve our veteran community? The Niagara Network, an
Erie County group of business professionals servicing the human
services industry, would like to introduce you to a few of its members
that are filled with people who have big hearts and a passion for helping
veterans and their families. The following non-profit organizations all
realize that our veterans, who have given so much of themselves for our
country, deserve our time and effort in their time of need. How blessed
they all are to be able to pay it forward.
DONATIONS AND THE GIFT OF TIME
As the Volunteer Resource Coordinator at the Pennsylvania Soldiers’
& Sailors’ Home (PSSH), Ken Vybiral has a firsthand opportunity to
connect individuals and organizations throughout the Erie area with
their mission of supporting and providing for our nation’s heroes. “I’ve
seen this support take form in several different capacities,” says Vybiral.
“Monetary donations help support our special events and programming
that we can offer our veterans such as trips to local attractions and
sporting events. These dollars also provide for entertainment at
the home and are used to purchase presents for each veteran at
Christmastime. Donations of clothes, books, and comfort items such as
decks of cards and movies also provide much needed support.”
Beyond the physical donations though, the most valuable gift given
may be the gift of time. Taking the time out of a busy schedule to
support a program at PSSH or visit with a forlorn resident provides
a rewarding experience for the volunteer and shows our veterans that
they are still thought of and not forgotten by the community. “Through
this volunteer work I’ve noticed a special connection develop between
former service men and women and our residents,” Vybiral says. “
Vybiral explains that the opportunity to give back to a population
that they can relate to and share camaraderie with helps create a bond
between those that served. Vietnam Veteran Gary Gaber, a PSSH
volunteer and Vietnam says, “Even though everyone’s experience in the
service is different there’s a comfort level you have being around fellow
veterans. It’s emotional and there’s a bond that already exists before I
walk through the door.”
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