VFW fundraising about half-way to goal

The Sandusky VFW Post 2945 raised and honored the flag at Graff Chevrolet of Sandusky on Sept. 14, the beginning of a promotion to raise money for the VFW’s kitchen project. Graff is running a promotion in which they will donate $100 from the purchase of each vehicle bought through a referral from a VFW member. The promotion will run through October. Members of VFW, Sandusky Graff employees, Hank Graff and all the general managers from 10 locations in Michigan and Ohio were present. Photo by Angie Marks The Sandusky Veterans of Foreign Wars Post is almost half way to their goal of raising $20,000 to finish the kitchen.

They need a commercial kitchen vent and air exchange in order to hold dinners and rent out the facility. The vent and installation will cost about $15,000, the rest of the money will go toward completing the 20 by 30 foot kitchen.

When the VFW bought the former Integrity Window & Door property south of Sandusky last year, it had no kitchen so they can’t be grand-fathered in to old health codes, explained Post Jr. Vice- Commander Harlow Elsholz.

He said they have been fundraising for about a month.

“Our goal was to ask 200 people to donate $100. Businesses and farmers have been a little more generous,” he stated.

Post 2945 had not had a home for about eight years before buying the building and 2.9 acres on M-19 next to Greenwood Cemetery.

When the VFW sold their building in Sandusky about eight years ago, it was because of declining membership and the majority of their members were elderly.

Elsholz said several new members have joined in the past couple years, including him.

“We have more Vietnam vets and some from Iraq and Afghanistan,” he stated.

“I (originally) joined in 1970 when I came home from the service, but they weren’t doing anything I was interested in.”

He joined a second time about a year and a half ago after realizing all the projects the post undertook.

“I wasn’t aware that the money they raise doesn’t just go to the building. We give away a lot of money in scholarships,” Elsholz said.

The post now has 104 members on the rolls, although only about 16 are active, like most organizations, he noted.