Did you hear that the VFW, businesses rally to aid WWII veteran?

Did you hear that the VFW, businesses rally to aid WWII veteran?

Here another one of those great stories about businesses, the local VFW, and others coming together to help a 97 year old U.S. Women’s Army Air Corps Veteran!

http://www.ramonasentinel.com/news/2015/sep/23/vfw-businesses-rally-to-aid-WWII-veteran/

The flood-damaged home of 97-year-old World War II veteran Pat Belden is gradually coming together through donations of time, labor and money by many individuals, organizations and businesses.

Last week Kitchen Barn of Ramona installed new kitchen cabinets for the U.S. Women’s Army Air Corps veteran, whose house in the 1100 block of Sixth Street was a victim of the July 18 and 19 rainstorms.

“Every room in the house flooded,” said Belden’s live-in caregiver, Debbie Labbe.

While Kitchen Barn is donating the labor for the cabinet installation, Ramona Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3783 and its Men’s and Ladies auxiliaries contributed $1,750 toward the cabinets. Mark Gottas, a design consultant with Kitchen Barn, is a member of the Men’s Auxiliary. He is one of many connecting to others to make the restoration possible.

Kitchen Barn co-owner Tracy Taft became aware of Belden’s situation because her sister, Karen Vaughan, handles Belden’s financial affairs and has long ties to the veteran and her late husband, Michael. The Beldens owned Business Management Services and hired Vaughan when she was 16 years old. Vaughan eventually purchased the business from them.

Also contributing to the kitchen restoration is Poway VFW Post 7907, which is donating appliances. Both the Ramona and Poway VFWs also arranged for new drywall, related supplies and labor, said Labbe.

Through the Poway Veterans Organization, Dave Mullet with San Diego Granite Inc. in Poway learned of Belden’s situation. He received approval from San Diego Granite owners Bill Mullet (Dave Mullet’s brother) and Doug Main to provide granite countertops for Belden’s kitchen and bathrooms.