Veterans help veterans

An organization of military veterans that concentrates on supporting Veterans Administration health-care services continuesto take care of its own in North Carolina.

Allied Veterans of the World Inc. & Affiliates is presenting a $100,000 donation to the VA hospitals in North Carolina. The money will be dispersed in four $25,000 grants to each of the VA Volunteer Services at the Durham, Fayetteville, Asheville and Salisbury VA hospitals.

The presentation was made Friday at the W.G. "Bill" Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury. With this donation, Allied Veterans has donated more than $700,000 within the last year to VA health-care services throughout the Southeastern United States.

"Our veterans deserve the best medical attention possible, and we understand the challenges their health-care system faces today," said National Commander Johnny Duncan. "We're proud to be assisting the VA volunteers and medical professionals with funds that will help them better serve our healing veterans."

Allied Veterans of the World Inc. & Affiliates prides itself on being veterans helping veterans.

The organization raises funds through bingo, car washes, cookouts and cyber centers. All funds directly benefit veteran or first responder organizations. Allied Veterans of the World Inc. & Affiliates was founded in 1979 as the 451st Bomber Group by Commander-in-Chief Harold Grossman. Grossman began meeting with friends from his military unit, and they decided to become the first organized veteran group in Florida by incorporating under the official name of Bomber Group 451st, Inc.

Throughout the next 10 years, the group donated various items to the VA domiciliary. They aided senior citizens in the area and provided transportation for veterans who didn't have the means to the VA hospital. The group gathered funds through bingo along with member contributions.

Members of the group realized they could make a much larger impact on the veteran community if they opened their organization to all veterans. In 1989, Allied Veterans of the World Inc. was born. For more information, visit AlliedVeteransInc .com.