Work Vessels for Vets Awards $60,000 in 2021 Q1 to 15 Injured Veterans
MYSTIC, CT. Work Vessels for Vets announces $60,000 in equipment awards in the first quarter of 2021. to 14 injured veterans and one veteran-serving nonprofit.. Work Vessels for Vets is a Mystic, Connecticut-based national charity that gives equipment to wounded veterans who are starting a business. Since 2008 this award-winning, volunteer-run charity has provided 2200 veteran-entrepreneurs in all 50 states with equipment valued at more than $3.4 million.
"Just in time for Spring planting, Work Vessels for Vets assembled funds to send two tractors to deserving heroes, a much needed mower to a nonprofit and laptops for the Spring semester at school for those vets completing their education,” said John Niekrash, President and co-founder of the charity.
US Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Jeremy Lake served 5 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, surviving two IED bombings that resulted in spinal and TBI injuries. He medically retired with two Purple Hearts to the family farm in Pennsylvania where his family is restoring the grandfather’s large fruit orchards and planting 700 blueberry and raspberry bushes. Work Vessels for Vets was able to assemble donors to purchase a large tractor, adapted to accommodate his injuries to help with the Spring planting.
Army Corporal Ryan Salvas (here with his Mulefoot pigs) is not letting his 90% medical disability rating stop him from pursuing his dream of raising heirloom breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens on his eastern Connecticut acreage. With help from local VFWs in Lyme/Old Lyme and Canterbury, Work Vessels for Vets purchased the big tractor outfitted for the tasks, reducing the aggravation of his combat injuries.
In addition, a nonprofit equine therapy program for veterans in PA received a commercial mower and 14 veterans across the country received refurbished laptops for school, including a high end laptop valued at $1900 sent to an injured Army Special Forces veteran enrolled in medical studies at George Washington University, The laptop was donated by a Mystic, CT widow of a local executive in honor of her husband’s military service.
