Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 777 into law Wednesday, providing a bit of light at the end of the dark tunnel of 2020 and coronavirus restrictions for veterans’ organizations.
“That was a big help,” said State VFW Commander Ron Peters over the phone Friday. “I’m not sure when it goes into effect, I have heard that it goes into effect immediately, which will give us a real shot in the arm.”
House Bill 777 allows clubs to use the proceeds from small games of chance to cover operating expenses during and up to one year after a proclamation of disaster emergency has ended. It specifically mentions the COVID-19 pandemic and lays out guidelines for reporting to the state.
“We all worked really hard to get it and it’s going to give some help,” Peters said. “We are going to continue to work on getting some bills through to get money for veterans’ service organizations through the CARES Act money still in the state.”
Two other bills have been introduced that would pave the way for veterans’ organizations to receive such assistance. Peters explained that, as with most veterans’ organizations, there are lobbyists who visit the state capital and work on the organizations’ behalf.
“I will have my legislative people work at the capital with the senate and assembly, to see if we can get some help out there. It’s not something you can stop on, you have to keep going,” Peters said.
In addition to financial help, Peters also pointed out another potential way to help the organizations, stating “I think the thing that would help us the most is if they would get the vaccine out to the general public as soon as possible.”
Peters also pointed out that, despite the struggle to pay utility bills and bring in revenue during shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic, VFWs continue to serve their communities.
“Right now, despite the COVID and despite being shut down pretty much for eight-plus months, VFWs across the state of Pa. have done some awesome things in their communities,” Peters said.
He mentioned blood drives and other outreach programs, such as handling medication delivery for shut-in veterans.
“One VFW north of Harrisburg, they are out in the country. They had about 4 acres of empty land, so even though they were shut down, the Commander plowed and planted potatoes. They gave several tons of fresh-grown potatoes to the local food bank,” Peters said. He also talked of a VFW in the Pittsburgh area. While the post is closed to visitors, officials still create 147 boxes of food each week, which are delivered to shut-in veterans.
VFW Post 212 in Bradford has also been hard at work, including a recent effort to deliver a meal to first responders.
“We are continuing to do our community service, even though we have been kind of hampered like everyone else has,” Peters said.
