New Phila VFW ready to assist area veterans

Veterans in the area who find themselves in need of help this holiday season can turn to New Philadelphia VFW Post 1445, where the Veteran’s Assistance Fund is once again ready with aid.

“It’s a little surprising,” Post Cmdr. Steve Chenevey said, “that we have gotten less requests for help this year, given the extra difficulties many people are facing because of the virus. We have funds available to help if any veteran needs it, and we want to make sure that people know about that.”

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to serving the needs of veterans in the area. “That is always our main purpose,” Chenevey said. “We’re not able to offer cash, but we have many ways we can help instead.”

The VFW has gift cards available to help with fuel purchases to make sure vets are able to get to their medical appointments and other necessities. “We have gift cards for Giant Eagle so vets can stock up if they need to and from Walmart for groceries or clothes or other needs,” Chenevey said.

There also is help available with utility bills. “Again, we can’t give cash,” Chenevey said, “but if any veteran brings a utility bill they’re struggling to get paid, we can help with that also.”

To qualify for help via the VFW Assistance Fund, veterans need only bring proof of their service in one of the branches of the United States armed forces. “You have to come in to the VFW and sign a receipt, but that’s about it,” Chenevey said. “We have several veterans we are helping now with various expenses through the fund. And we have been offering services like this to veterans ever since the post was established.”

Chenevey said New Philadelphia VFW Post 1445 has given out about $72,000 annually over the last several years through numerous charitable activities. “We offer a scholarship fund for the children of veterans and for our Voice of Democracy essay contest. We just gave away scholarships for that recently,” he said.

Chenevey encouraged veterans in need to contact them. “We’re just not getting so many calls for help this year for some reason,” he said. “We have funds available and encourage veterans to contact us if they need help.”

Next year will see the post’s expansion into its efforts to prevent hunger among the area veteran community. “We are adding to the building to create space for a food pantry for veterans,” Chenevey said.

Funding for the VFW’s many charitable efforts comes from the post’s fundraising efforts through the year. The group’s regular poppy sales were curtailed this year due to public restrictions, but the post normally hosts a pulled pork dinner and conducts internal fundraising via members throughout the year. The organization also welcomes public donations.

“We also help the local food bank and Salvation Army with our charitable work,” Chenevey said.

The Canteen, as the food and beverage arm of the VFW is called, has been busy this year. “Everyone has to wear a mask to get in, and we’ve taken all the precautions we can,” Chenevey said. “I think people have felt safe coming here. We have been able to keep up with expenses and have funds available to continue to do good things in the community.”

Call the New Philadelphia VFW at 330-364-9973 or visit Post 1445 at 441 Park Ave. NW in New Philadelphia. Anyone who knows a veteran in need and would like to request assistance can contact the VFW on their behalf as well.