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Benefiting local veterans a continued focus for Operation Wounded Vetz organizers

Meadville Tribune - 7/17/2018

July 17--As Operation Wounded Vetz approaches its seventh annual day-long effort at Meadville'sItalian Civic Club, the impact of the fundraiser's focus on local veterans is evident, though perhaps not as widely known as it should be.

"They've always donated and every year most of it has been used for vets and their partners to come out for breakaways," said Marsha Pedone of Lilac Springs, which provides a stress-free environment for veterans and their families to get their bearings just south of Meadville. "They stay 100 percent free in the large farmhouse here, where we provide bedding, food, snacks, everything they need.

"We wouldn't be able to do that without the donations we get from groups like Operation Wounded Vetz," Pedone said.

The support provided by Operation Wounded Vetz continues to grow. Last year's event proved the most successful yet, raising nearly $30,000 and bringing the event's total to more than $100,000, organizers said at the time.

Alyssa Severo, a member of the organizing committee behind the event, put it simply: "That's a big deal."

Severo and other committee members hope to continue the momentum this year. The key to the event's success, they said, is the confidence participants have that the money raised will benefit those who need it most right here in northwestern Pennsylvania.

"Just knowing that all the proceeds stay local and that it's to help local veterans" keeps people coming back each year, said Jim Bird, who chairs the committee this year. "I think a lot of people realize the government probably doesn't do as much as they should, and this is their chance to contribute, especially locally."

While this year's version will not include the usual motorcycle run -- Erie's Roar on the Shore event is going on this week as well -- in most other respects, Operation Wounded Vetz 2018 will resemble years past: a bar crawl, live music, spaghetti dinners, lots of raffles and auction items and a day full of fun focused on helping the women and men who have put their physical and mental health at risk defending their nation.

In addition to Lilac Springs, three organizations in the region will benefit from funds raised Saturday: WCJ Ranch, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Erie Chapter and Project Support Our Troops at Jack Greer Memorial Post 52.

Charlie Schmitz, founder of WCJ Ranch near Meadville, will be on the minds of many organizers and participants alike, according to Severo. Schmitz died in September, nearly a quarter-century after he started WCJ, which provides a regulated licensed shooting and hunting ground free of charge to disabled veterans and inexperienced youth hunters.

"When we first started this, he was the only place we donated to locally," Severo said. "We came to know him and got really close with him."

As additional veterans-focused organizations were added to the slate of beneficiaries, Severo said, the groups benefited in unexpected ways.

"We have helped the entities we support to come together," she said. "Ever since we started, they started sending vets to each other and helping each other more."

Being part of the event helps improve the organizations' name recognition, according to Pedone. Part of the point of a place like Lilac Springs is to be low-key, she said, but that doesn't help with advertising. When more people know about small nonprofits like these, they are able to help more people more effectively.

"We can't afford to advertise much and we want to maintain a quiet and relaxing place, but that makes it difficult for people to get to know us," Pedone said. "Just because the event is so big, it helps people hear about us."

Mike Crowley can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at mcrowley@meadvilletribune.com.

You can go

Operation Wounded Vetz takes place Saturday. The day begins with a bar crawl at noon at the Firehouse Tap & Grille and continues at Chestnut Street Pub, Chipper's, The Other Place Penny Bar, Brass Mule Tavern and Tavern 297. The last stop on the bar crawl is the Italian Civic Club, 869 Water St., where doors open at 4 p.m. for the main event. Admission is $20 and includes spaghetti dinner, 30-item raffle, live music and nonalcoholic beverages. Tickets are available at the door. VFW Post 2006 Color Guard and Pipe Band lead the opening ceremony followed by performances from Go for Broke and The Ruckus Band. More information: Call 337-5422.

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