Donors help build up Vets Council emergency fund

There are still veterans in need, but the Warren County Veterans Council's Emergency Fund is recovering from the pandemic.

After a couple of years of higher-than-normal use, the fund is building back up, thanks to local donors.

Last month, two county veterans, Scott Hollabaugh of Rusted Nutz and Gene Bailey of Affordable Hauling, with help from the Eagles Club, Cabin in the Pines, and the Warren County Veterans Council, put on a spaghetti dinner with all proceeds going to the Emergency Fund.

"We've been doing this for seven years," Bailey said. "This is our 12th event."

It was the first at the Eagles Club and it was a successful one. "This is our largest single event so far," he said. "We raised $5,500."

"I'm humbled by the public," he said. "It was a great turnout."

The money raised was donated directly to the fund -- no overhead costs were paid from those sales. The club donated all the food and volunteers worked the event while desserts were donated by an Amish family.

Hollabaugh and Bailey purchased guns to be raffled "We did fantastic on the raffles," Pam Hollabaugh said.

The venue and the benefit will be getting together again.

"The second annual has already been authorized," Bailey said.

The organizers expect the dinner to become an annual event.

The next event will be held on Sept. 18, at Cabin in the Pines.

"We try to do them on a Monday night," Pam Hollabaugh said. The organizers want to disrupt businesses as little as possible and Mondays are typically slow days.

"This event is crying for Warren County corporate sponsorships," Bailey said.

Warren County veterans who find themselves in tough spots can apply to the Emergency Fund every three years.

"The military was very good to most of us," Hollabaugh said. "We're glad we can help."

The Veterans Council is grateful for the efforts.

"This is one of our largest fund-raisers," Stec said. "The money stays in Warren County. There are a lot of veterans in need right now."