Community donations are going to veterans in need

Pionke thanks Shawano County for continued support
By: 
Luke Reimer
Reporter

Christmas came early for one Shawano County department.

The Shawano County Veteran Services Department has received numerous donations from various community business, organizations and members, including a $1,000 donation from American Veterans for the county’s Disabled American Veterans van.

“We get donations through service organizations: the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, American Veterans, Shawano Women’s Club, Shawano Area Republican Women and private donors, as well as businesses,” said Pionke. “We use the funds to help offset the costs, if veterans or spouses of veterans have an unexpected house expense, or something like that.”

Pionke noted that the money also goes to purchasing flag holders that are used to display flags at various cemeteries across the entire county.

“The local True Value store (in Shawano) — they donate all of the flags for the veterans grave sites and allow them to be replaced throughout the year if need be, due to weather,” said Pionke.

He estimated that close to 10 people throughout the year in the county are being helped by these funds from donations and said at times the money that they receive is quite substantial to helping in whatever the area of need is.

Finally, Pionke said that one of the biggest parts of where these donations go to is the Disabled American Veterans van. Shawano County uses the van to take veterans to cities like Green Bay, or Milwaukee for medical appointments.

“American Veterans donated $1,000 to help support the DAV vans,” said Pionke. “(That money) allows us to get volunteer drivers to take them down to Milwaukee, Green Bay, or Appleton. I think that we are the only county that has DAV vans on sight in the county.”

In his time working and living in Shawano, Pionke said that Shawano County has always shown strong support to veterans and his department. He added that even before he was in this role, the department received many donations from similar organizations.

“They like taking care of veterans and they know that we have a limited operating budget,” said Pionke. “The county has been tremendous with veterans through the support. There are other counties, where people say that they will take care of their veterans, just to say it. Shawano County is actually doing it — the businesses, the service organization — they are actually doing it.”

Looking ahead to the future, Pionke said that some funds will be used to participate in Operation Greenlight next year.

“The week of Veterans Day, we are asking that businesses and merchants display a green light to show support for military,” said Pionke. “Next year, I want to see a really good response.”

Pionke expressed his appreciation to residents, businesses and municipalities for the continued support of veterans, somthing that he said is the most support from a county that he has seen.

“Shawano County loves its veterans,” said Pionke.


lreimer@newmedia-wi.com