Donations help supplies get to vets, troops
Two Capital Region organizations that aid veterans and their families as well as active-duty military personnel are receiving help amid pandemic restrictions.
A donation is helping the Veterans Miracle Center fuel its van, used to deliver food to needy veterans.
Also, the Saratoga County Clerk’s Office is spearheading its annual Yellow Ribbon Day donation collection drive to benefit Blue Star Mothers of America — NY 2, a group that sends care packages to deployed troops.
Donation for gas costs
Steve Haraben, vice president of Mohawk Auto Center, Schenectady, gave the Veterans Miracle Center a $5,000 check, which will help the center cope with rising gasoline costs.
“We bring the center good news — a $5,000 check to help the center fill their van with gas,” Haraben said during the presentation.
Robert Pratt, a volunteer, drives the van to make food deliveries to veterans who can’t go to the center on Interstate Avenue in Colonie. He and other volunteers also drive veterans to medical appointments and deliver household goods to veterans’ homes in area as far south as Poughkeepsie and as far north north as Plattsburgh, as well as in the Capital Region.
“We need this donation so we can continue to deliver food to veterans who can’t come here (VMC),” said John Nardelillo, a Marine Corps League volunteer. “We need the money for gas for the Veterans Miracle Center van.”
“Throughout the pandemic, the Veterans Miracle Center has been using the van to deliver food and goods to veterans in need as they stay safe at home,” Haraben said before the presentation. “The donation will help offset the cost of deliveries.”
A group of veterans from the William Dale O’brien Detachment of the Marine Corps League, mostly Vietnam War veterans, an Army veteran and others help organize food donations in the center pantry. They also pack food and other items in boxes for the deliveries.
John Nardelillo, Bill Nardelillo, Bill Keyes and Joe Pollicino, all Marine Corps League volunteers, and Army veteran Ken Secor have been helping the center deal with an increased demand for food and other items since the pandemic broke out last year.
Pratt spends between four and seven hours several times each week making food deliveries, according to Melody Burns, center director. He makes between 10 and 12 deliveries each day and sometimes as many as 25 deliveries a day.
“The VMC was created in 2014 as a unique first-of-its-kind retail-style store for veterans and their immediate families to obtain all the necessities of life by shopping as they would in a regular retail store, except here, everything in the store is 100 percent free of charge,” says Burns.
The center has been providing food, clothing, household goods, appliances and furniture to needy veterans and their families since 2014. To date, the center has served more than 17,500 veterans, according to Burns.
The center has a food pantry, a large store-like room with new clothing, household goods and a warehouse at 10 Interstate Ave. in Colonie.
Right after COVID-19 hit last year, the center had to close its doors for a week.
That prompted a flood of phone calls from veterans in need. Center volunteers responded to those needs by delivering food, personal care products, cleaning supplies and whatever else was needed, said Burns.
The demand for food exploded. Many veterans responded to directives to stay at home for their health and safety.
The pandemic also forced the center to cancel its fundraisers at a time when need for the center’s services rose.
Veterans who have transportation can call the center at 518-458-8398 for services. Goods will be left outside for them to pick up.
The center still needs donations to cover its operating expenses, buy gas, food and other items, and maintenance. To donate, make checks payable to Veterans Miracle Center, 10 Interstate Ave., Albany, NY 12205.
Care packages
Saratoga County Clerk Craig A. Hayner said his office is launching its annual Yellow Ribbon Day donation collection drive to benefit Blue Star Mothers. His office is partnering with the Saratoga County Chamber, Saratoga County Veterans Business Council, Hannaford stores in Saratoga County, and Blue Star Mothers of America — NY2 to support U.S. military members who are serving overseas.
Donation collection boxes are at participating Hannaford stores throughout Saratoga County now through April 8. The collection will culminate on Yellow Ribbon Day, Friday, April 9, with a drivethru donation drive from 9 to 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Halfmoon. A brief outdoor ceremony commemorating Yellow Ribbon Day will be held at 11 a.m. following the donation drive-thru collection.
The public is encouraged to donate goods that will go into care packages and be shipped to troops. Blue Star Mothers volunteers will use the donations to fill “Freedom Boxes” to be shipped to deployed troops from Capital
Region communities.
Snack and personal care donations requested include individual and travel size packages of crackers, microwavable cups of soup, fruit snacks, granola bars, and beef jerky, as well as personal care items such as insect repellent wipes, toothbrushes, body wash, deodorant, lip balm, puzzle books and more. A full list of donation requests is on the Saratoga county clerk’s webpage on the county website at www.saratogacountyny.gov and on the Facebook page @saratogacountyclerk.
Monetary donations are also accepted to help ship and fill “Freedom Boxes.” Those interested can donate to “Blue Star Mothers of America — NY2” through the Paypal Giving Fund (www.paypal.com/fundraiser/ hub). Alternatively, checks can be made payable to Blue Star Mothers of America — NY2 and sent to P.O. Box 243, Delmar, NY 12054. Suggested donations include $13 to ship a box; $30 to fill a box; or $43 to ship and fill a box; any donation amount is welcome. More information is available on the Blue Star Mothers of America — NY2 Facebook page, @Ny2bluestarmoms.
Donna Vickery, president of Blue Star Mothers of America — NY 2, said, “As parents of servicemen and women, it’s important to us to accommodate every request we receive for ‘Freedom Boxes.’”