The time for our 15th Annual Pierce County Veterans Golf Tournament is drawing near. We would like to invite you to join us Friday, Sept. 11 at Spring Valley Golf Course to honor service and sacrifice. You will experience a day of golf, camaraderie and fellowship as we raise funds for the Pierce County Veterans emergency assistance program. Also keep in mind that September holds the promise of cooler weather for this activity, when those temperatures begin to be just right for a hole in one. Spots are still available for golfers, golf teams and event volunteers.

This year, a portion of the funds raised will support the purchase of a new veteran transport vehicle for our Pierce County Veterans Transportation Program. The old van has definitely seen better days and should be "mechanically discharged," as many Pierce County veteran riders would agree. Transporting our veterans to their VA health care appointments directly improves their quality of life by increasing their access to health care. This ensures that our veterans, even in rural areas, have safe and reliable transportation to VA health care facilities.  

Call us or stop by on any Walk-In Wednesday for more information on our event or to pick up a Golf Tournament Flyer. We would love to have you participate as either a volunteer, event sponsor or a donor of a raffle prize, as our office still needs a variety of raffle prizes for a successful event. Reach out to the office for any assistance needed.

Please share this with others as your support means so much. Thanks to the faithful support of our community for our Pierce County veterans, we were able to raise over $13,104 last year. One hundred percent of the funds raised go directly to Pierce County veterans, helping them and their families have support during tough times with our Emergency Assistance funds. That means food on the table, some gas in the tank so they can get to work or go to a job interview. Sometimes it means paying a utility bill or a car repair bill so their monthly budget will not be strained to the point of choosing between essential items like housing, food and utilities without having any funds left over. With the rising costs that we are all experiencing, for a veteran barely getting by – for example, an older veteran on a fixed income or a younger veteran family who have experienced job loss, our emergency aid funds can make all the difference and thereby create better mental health and well being for them while getting them back on their feet. Your donation directly funds this process.

This is an opportunity to help those in need who have already sacrificed so much for their country. As a volunteer, we invite you to experience a stronger sense of community while boosting your happiness and meeting like minded caring peers along with some of our local heroes. When you donate, you’re funding a veteran’s journey from “I don’t know why I’m here anymore” to “I know exactly what I am meant to do next.” Your donation removes the barriers between a struggling veteran and the transformation they need. It strengthens a system that helps every veteran that follows. Our Pierce County veterans volunteered to serve. Supporting them is one way we can serve them back and be committed to making that difference.

Melissa Hildebrandt is the Pierce County Veterans Service Officer. Tami MacGregor is the Veteran Case Coordinator.