Area ShopRites help raise $200,000 to benefit local veterans organizations

Area ShopRite supermarkets have helped raise a total of $200,000 to benefit three non-profit veteran organizations aiding service men and women and their families in the Hudson Valley region. The money raised will benefit The Tower of Hope, The Orange County Veterans Food Pantry and the Committee for the Families of Iraqi War Veterans - all of whom support the many active and returning service men, women and families throughout the Hudson Valley region. ShopRite’s Veteran campaign was comprised of several fundraising efforts including a check-out counter donation drive, golf outing and casino night, car washes, hot dog sales, pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, raffles and giveaways. In addition, ShopRite vendors contributed by donating a portion of the proceeds from special product promotions to the overall donation. What they raised Chester: $12,165 Monroe: $9,607 Montgomery: $9,340 Warwick: $8,041 Walkill: $7,731 The beneficiaries The Committee for the Families of Iraqi War Veterans - provides emotional, financial and educational support for mid-Hudson Valley veterans and families of military personnel killed or wounded while fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. This 57 member volunteer organization helps veterans cope with post traumatic stress disorder and suicide prevention, offers funding for therapy and rehabilitation and professional consultations to retrain and re-employ veterans back into the work force. To learn more, visit www.familiesofwarvets.org. The Tower of Hope - provides funding to train and care for expertly trained service dogs so seriously wounded veterans can live in greater safety and comfort, and with higher independence. With service dogs costing more than $25,000 per year, The Tower of Hope provides service dogs to veterans at no charge. To learn more, visit www.thetowerofhope.org. The Orange County Veterans Food Pantry - provides food and non-perishable items for the growing community of veterans of all ages and branches of service.. Orange County oversees this pantry and provides a delivery service to the families that have no means of transportation. To learn more, visit www.orangecountygov.com.