A fundraiser at Greg’s Meats in Hampton is helping veterans from the Hastings Veterans Home get back outdoors
this fall.
KDWA attended the fundraiser kick-off on Saturday, June 27.
The Greg’s Meats fundraising event offered grilled hot dogs with all the fixings, chips, and beverages. Proceeds from the event will help fund the Veterans Home’s annual fishing trip to Big Marine Lake, scheduled for September 16–18.
Donation buckets will remain at Greg’s Meats through July 4th for anyone who would still like to contribute.
Veteran and volunteer Dave Oxley says the trip gives residents a chance to step away from their daily routine and enjoy a few days on the lake.
Dave Oxley: “We just enjoy helping them out. We get them out of their environment a little bit and let them enjoy themselves. Some of them don’t have access to things like this, so Greg just does this every year.”
About a dozen veterans typically attend the fishing trip. They stay in lakeside cabins and can spend their time fishing, walking the trails, playing games, or simply relaxing, with staff members accompanying the group throughout the getaway.
Veterans Resource Coordinator Robert Vandenbos says all recreational activities at the Hastings Veterans Home are
funded through donations, making support from community events like this one especially important.
Greg’s Meats proprietor Greg Endres says hosting the fundraiser each year is simply a way to give back.
Greg Endres: “It just feels good to help the veterans that gave so much. They’re great people.”
Once again, Greg’s Meats is accepting donations through July 4 to help fund the Hastings Veterans Home’s annual fishing trip this September. If you’d rather give directly, you can also make a donation to the Veterans Home and earmark your donation for the fishing trip.
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