FUND RAISING
To raise funds for the many projects we support, we work most weekends selling raffle tickets and accepting donations at locations throughout our community
Visiting Vets at Local Nursing Homes
In 2023 Tom Kirby had an idea to visit our veterans in one of our local nursing homes and got approval for our chapter to buy military ball caps to pass out to the veterans. Each vet was present a hat representing their branch of service they served. It was a big success and so Tom, with other Chapter volunteers, expanded the ball cap program to including other veterans in our local nursing homes. Tom then he came up with the idea of playing Bingo at the nursing homes for the vets, many of whom have no family or have become forgotten. Our volunteers now go to a different nursing home each month to have a meet and greet, deliver hats to new veterans and play Bingo. Thanks to Tom’s idea, “No Veteran being left behind” has become a reality for our veterans in local nursing homes.
Treating local Nursing Home Vets to Breakfast or Lunch with our Membership
In addition to visiting veterans at local nursing home, we’ve expanded our connection with nursing home veterans and will on occasion arrange to have them meet us a local restaurant for breakfast or lunch.
Friday Morning Breakfast
 202 Holloween |  Early morning breakfast |
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 Morning breakfast |  Morning Breakfast |
 Morning breafast |  2023 We collected a special tip for our waitresses at our Christmas breakdfast |
 Christmas Bonus for our server |  2024 Santa's Helper Steve Masak |
We get together for breakfast on Friday morning at The Station House Restaurant to share friendship. Come join us any Friday morning between 7 and 8:30 am. We always remember those that remember us and each year we present a special christmas bonus for our server. We never know what costume one of members will show up for any of our Holidays. Fun for all.
Magnolia Sr. Center
Magnolia Sr. Center
Quilt for our Members by Mary Ellen Caruso
Tony Caruso and his wife, Mary Ellen are both veterans and have on their own presented members, who have had some serious medical issues with quilts made by Mary Ellen and made at their own expense. In addition to members receiving quilts, they have also donated quilts to some of our raffles. It's there way of giving back to our veterans.
Holiday Breakfast with Spouses and Friends
Each year before Christmas we invite our spouses and other friends to attend our Friday breakfast and we take up a special collection for the servers that take care of us each week.
Here's a video taken of the breakfast:
2025 National VVA Convention
Our 2025 National VVA Convention was held Aug 5-9 in New Orleans.
Our Chapter was represented by Kevin Curry (Treasury) Ed Shoemaker (President) Steve Massey (Fund Raising) and Joe Donner (1st VP).
Memorial Day Rememberence
 Delivery Flowers 2025 |  George EidsonUnfurling flag for George Eidson 2024 |
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 Tom KirbyUnfurling flag for Tom Kirby 2024 |  Guest speaker Tommy Clack 2025 |
 CiszeksmRemembering Frank Ciszek |  Delivery Flowers 2024 |
 Delivering flowers 2023 |
One of our traditions is the day before the Memorial Day Memorial is to deliver flowers to the spouses of our deceased members. Also, each year at the Memorial Day Celebration we dedicate a flag to members that passed away the previous year.
Visit to Currahee Military Museum
Trip to Toccoa
In the fall, our chapter makes a trip to the Currahee Military Museum. Member Rodney Moore seved as our special host. Lots of history as this was main training camp for Army Paratroopers during WW2.
Donation made to Currahee Military Museum
 Presentation made by Gary Goyette, Ed Shoemaker, Carl Reiber, Larry Castleberry, Jack Lynn and Marty Farrell |  The miniture wall was copy 1 of 1000 made donated to us by vendor named Becky from the Lakewood 400 Antique Mall |
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During one of our fund raisers at Lakewood 400 Antique Market, one of the vendors donated to us a miniature statue of the Vietnam Wall. It was the first statue of 149 statues produced. We felt the appropriate location for the statute was to donated to the Currahee Military Museum in Toccoa, Georgia, where it is now on display.
4th July Parade
For the past several years, we have had an entry in the Cumming 4th of July parade. The sheriff has allowed us to use their personal carrier and one of the deputies' volunteers on his day off to drive the truck.
Lunch with Spouses and Friends
Sep 2023
Sep 2023
We get together with our spouses and friends for lunch several times during the year.
Meeting with our Korean Vets
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Every year we meet with our associate members who served in the Korean Military that also served in Vietnam.
Serving with the USO
USO visit July 12 2023
USO visit Oct 2023
May 14 2025
USO visit July 12 2023
Every 3 months, we volunteer to help serve with the USO to greet and meet our veterans traveling through Hartsfield Jackson Airport in Atlanta. The USO offers a spot where our veterans can take and brake and grab a hot dog and something to drink. We provide the food and drink as well as volunteering our time to support our troops.
Delivering Checks and Gift Card 2024-25
We delivery checks to the organizations we support also donate gift cards for children to be distrubted through The Place as welll as Jesse's Place, Baldridge Lodge and Family Haven.
Recognition Banquet to honor Gary Goyette
On May 15, 2024, Gary Goyette was honored for his leadership as President of VVA Chapter 1030. During his tenure, membership increased 140% and finances increased 10-fold. In attendance was Mayor Brumbalow, who presented Gary with a proclamation, the VVA Georgia State officers, our national president, Jack McManus. Donations from membership paid for the banquet.
Copy of invitation. Click to open
Delivering Back Packs
To wrap up 2022, we participated in 3 events. For past few years, member Joe Labranche heads a program call About-Face and one of their projects is to hand out backpacks with supplies to our homeless vets. Our membership donates to this cause and help Joe with handing out the backpacks. We support our Veterans at the VA Nursing home and this year we bought each resident a Christmas gift. Finally, Steve Masak and other members met at the Georgia National Cemetery to lay wreaths on veterans’ markers. We strongly believe “No Veterans should ever be left behind.” We are grateful to have helped so many people and meet our goals for 2022.
Delivering Checks 2023
 Check presented to the St. Joseph Food pantry to help feed children during summer when school is out. |  Gift Cards presented to The Place of Forsyth to be used for Christmas |  Check presented to The Place of Forsyth for Veterans Assistance |
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 Check presented to St. Joseph Food Kitchen |  Check presented to The Place of Forsyth for operating expenses |  Check presented to Forsyth County Ga Sheriff Freeman to suport BADGE of FCSO |
 Check presented to The Place to purchase 240 turkey for Thanksgiving |  Check for Backpacks to give to homeless Vets |
Lt Colonel Moose Lutes, USMCR, reunites with MOH recipient General Livingston, USMC
The Rally Point Social Organization of North Georgia College sponsored an open house with gues speaker General James Livingston, USMC, Metal of Honor recipient. LtCol Moose Lutes had a good reason to attend the open house and hear General Livingston speak. He served with General Livingston during the evacuating from Saigon after the Saigon Government collapsed. It was the first time the've gotten together in 49 years.
Donating Gift Cards 2022
 Gift cards for The Cottage |  Gift cards for The Holiday House |
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 Gifts cards for The Bald Ridge House |
Each year our chapter takes up a collection to buy gift cards that are given to children for Christmas. Our members donated enough money to purchase 229 $25 gift cards.
Delivering Easter Dinners 2023
For Easter each year, we team up with ALTRUSA to create a food basket for those unable to get out for Easter. Our Chapter donate the turkeys or hams and the local ALTRUSA chapters put together a food basket to complete an Easter meal. The VVA volunteers then go with a member of The Place to make the personal delivers to the families. It's another way for all of us to give back to the community where we live.
Thanksgiving Turkey Give-Away 2023
One of our annual events is to donate the funds for The Place of Forsyth to purchase turkey to be given away to needy individuals for Thanksgiving. Through other donations, The Place purchases what is needed for a complete meal. We volunteer to pass out the meals to individuals that otherwise would not have a thanksgiving meal.
Annual Award Banquet 2023
 Jack Lynn, Fund Raising Chairman |  Dave Burns, Secretary and Web Master |
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 Dan Jordan, Special Services |  Ed Shoemaker, VP |
 Joe Donner, At Large Director |  Kvin Curry, Treasurer |
 Tom Senior and Carl Reiber Co Winners of Member of the year 2023 |  Tom Kirby, Veteran Outreach Chairman |
 Steve Masak, Special Fund Raising |  Larry Castleberry, Fund Raising |
 Mary Ellen Caruso, Contributor |  Marty Farrell, Public Relations |
At the end of each year, we hold an Award Banquet to recognize the directors and officers and other special people who have made our Chapter successful. The event is paid for mostly from funds returned to us from our National Organization based on the numbers of members in our chapter.
Delivering Meals for Nurses
During the latest COVID outbreak, we worked with Rooster's Restaurant to prepare meals for the nurses. Rooster's also discounted the cost of the meals. We also received a free giant cookie for Great American Cookie. Both businesses are located in Cumming.
Delivering Christmas Bike to The Place
 IMG_0164 |  IMG_0687 |
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 Bikes4 |  Bikes1 |
 Bikes2 |  Bikes5 |
 Bikes3 |
Another one of our annual events is to purchase and donate bikes to The Place to be handed out to children who without our help would not have a bike for Chritmsas. This year we purchased 71 bikes with helments. In addition to the bikes, we hand out gift cards to the older children. Not only do we not want any veteran left behind, the same applies to children.
Thanksgiving 2022
One of our annual projects is to donate enough money to cover the cost for The Place of Forsyth County to purchase turkeys for Thanksgiving. This year we paid for 240 turkeys. Our members worked with our spouses for 3 days at The Place of Forsyth handing out the turkeys with a food box that our spouses put together to donate to those in need.
Holiday Social and Award Banquet 2022
 Jim Jackson recognized 2022 |  Joe Donner served on several committees 2022 |
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 Dave Burns, Secretary and Web Master was chosen as the Chapter Member of the Year 2022 |  Carl Reiber recognized for all his volenteer work on donations and other committees 2022 |
 Tom Kirby, Program Coordinator 2022 |  Tom Senior, Chapter Chaplin recognized for all his work with various committees he served on. 2022 |
 Tom Senior, Chaplain |  Larry Castleberry Assistant Chariman Raffle Sales 2022 |
 Jack Lynn Chairman Raffle Sales 2022 |  Ed Shoemaker, Vice President 2022 |
 Kevin Curry, Treasurer 2022 |  Dan Jordan, Special Services 2022 |
 Marty Farrell, Public Relations 2022 |  Steve Masak, Special Fund Raising 2022 |
 Mary Ellen recognized for her donations of quilts to our chapter 2022 |  Don Brown State Secretary VVA 2022 |
Our National VVA rebates funds back to each Chapter based on the number of members in the Chapter. The Chapter is free to use the funds as need. Our Chapter elects to use these funds for an Annual Holiday buffet dinner and recognize and honor those members who have made our chapter a success. A few members were unable to attend but were given their award at annual Spouses breakfast. Each year we recognize one member as "Member of the Year" and this year the honor went to David Burns, Chapter Secretary
Working with The Place of Forsyth for the 4th of July Holiday
For the 4th of July holiday, we volunteered with The Place of Forsyth to cook hot dogs to be given out to shut in and those less fortunate. We purchased the grill in anticipation of doing more in the future. The Place provided the trimmings for a holiday meal.
Delivering Bikes for Christmas 2022
Northeast Georgia Veteran Homeless Shelter
In November of 2019, the van used by the NE Georgia Veterans Center broke down beyond repairs. We were able to locate and purchase a replacement van so homeless veterans were able to be transported to work and Dr. appointments.
Replacement Van