On Saturday, February 17th, 2024, the
Rochester Elks Lodge #1393 presented the Vouchers for Veterans program with a
check for $2000 dollars. This donation was made possible by an Elks National
Foundation Gratitude Grant. This grant is designed to help local community
charitable projects. This money will be used to provide qualified military
veterans with $20 dollar vouchers that can be used to purchase food items at
local farmers markets.
Representing the Rochester Elks were Exalted Ruler
Peter Ducharme and Lodge Secretary / Elks National Foundation Chairman and Past
Exalted Ruler Norman Gervais. Accepting the donation was Vouchers for Veterans
President Jeanne Grover and Executive Assistant Kelly O’Neil.
The presentation was made at the Rollinsford Winter
Farmers Market located at Wentworth Gardens. Vouchers for Veterans was
initially started in 2016 with money being collected in a WW II Helmet for
military veterans. But how to give it back to the veterans was the question.
The people involved had an idea. They decided to use the money to establish a food
voucher program for the vets. The vets could use these vouchers to buy
nutritious food items at local farmers markets. The first farmers market where
this was implemented was Rochester, NH. It was a huge success. In 2018,
Vouchers for Veterans applied for
501( c )3 non profit status and received it in the fall of that year.
In September of 2023, Vouchers for Veterans participated in 9
different Farmers Markets each week for the entire month. They gave out $62,000
dollars in vouchers to 1500 veterans. From November 2023 to date, the program
has given out approximately $54,380 dollars in vouchers to over 900 individual
veterans. The group also has Veterans Services Offices (VSO) representation to
help veterans obtain their benefits. This includes assistance with filing the
correct paperwork and filling out the various required forms.
If you want more information about Vouchers For Veterans and for
directions, dates and exact locations of current Farmers Markets, please visit www.vouchersforveterans.org
The Rochester Elks is a certified 501 ( c ) 8 organization with
over 1000 members. For more information about the Elks and its programs, please
visit www.elks.org