Veteran-driven nonprofit continues its mission,

Sonora Vets Helping Vets is still finding ways to carry out its namesake mission despite a global pandemic and closure of the nonprofit organization's thrift store and vet center in East Sonora earlier this year.

The group recently launched weekly auctions through its Facebook page as a way to raise money due to COVID-19 restrictions that have put a halt on traditional fundraising events that typically accounted for more than half of its annual donations.

“We're trying to do other events throughout the community, but we're finding it difficult,” said Sarah Guyer, president of the organization's board.

Guyer came up with the idea for the virtual auctions on Facebook that began last week and will be held from 2 p.m. each Friday to 2 p.m. each Saturday.

People can bid on items in the comments section for each auction when it goes live and will be notified by the group if they win.

“All of that money goes back into our donation accounts to help veterans and their families,” Guyer said.

The organization was founded in 2013 by the late Russell Carpenter, a U.S. Navy veteran who died in 2019 after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer.

Guyer, of Mi-wuk Village, is a veteran of the Army and started getting involved with the organization as a veterans services officer two years ago before being elected to president earlier this year.

“I've been part of helping people turn their lives around and seen the difference that can be made by giving a hand to someone in need,” she said of what she's gained through her involvement.

The group provides assistance to veterans and their families through purchasing gift cards for food, clothing and help with bills.

Guyer said they are also involved in other projects, including a recent one to build a wheelchair ramp for a disabled vet in conjunction with the organization Operation Creekside.

“We'll do anything to help that person out,” Guyer said.

The organization can be more nimble with its funding to help veterans than other public entities that provide services.

Guyer said veterans also can sometimes be reluctant to ask for help and feel more comfortable doing so from others who have served.

Aaron Rasmussen took the helm of the organization as its chief executive officer shortly before Carpenter's death, but has since stepped back after they determined the position was no longer necessary after the closing of its thrift store and vet center.

Rasmussen still serves on the organization's board as its current treasurer.

The organization was forced to shut down its thrift store, which also helped raise money for its assistance to veterans, earlier this year because it didn't make sense financially due to a lack of sales from the pandemic and trouble finding volunteers to run it.

Guyer said many people have told her that they thought the organization had folded due to the store's closing, but she wanted to let people know that they are still around.

“Most people don't realize we were more than just a thrift store,” she said.

The group is also looking for donations of items for its online auctions, as well as bidders.

For more information, people can contact Guyer at sarahkguyer1031@gmail.com or (209) 432-8188.