Schools
D228 Bridges Program Donates to Disabled American Veterans Chapter
Students held a bake sale to raise funds for the veterans group
DAV Chapter 84 members Kevin Stokes, Charlie Luhan, David Ramirez, and Al Pechar accept a donation check from Anthony Smith, who helped his fellow students fundraise for the organization by selling baked goods at Oak Forest High School.
The men, part of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 84, visited the District 228 Bridges Program to say thank you for the Bridge groups fundraising efforts. The District 228 Bridge students did a bake sale to benefit the DAV. According to Oak Forest High School teacher Cassie Reid, “We were looking for a local veterans group and found the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 84.”
The DAV is a nonprofit organization that tries to makes life easier for disabled veterans. They work with veterans at the Hines VA Hospital and organize fun events for the veterans.
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The District 228 Bridge students decided to hold a bake sale to benefit the DAV and their work with disabled veterans. They organized the sale and sold baked good to hungry Oak Forest High School students, and they sold out quickly, raising $244.10 for the organization.
Representing the DAV Chapter 84 were Charlie Luhan, David Ramirez, Al Pechar, and Kevin Stokes. Each of the men shared part of their combat stories with the students and thanked them for their fundraising efforts. The men were from various military branches.
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Charlie Luhan recommended the students join the Navy because they could see the world. While in the Navy, Lugan went to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and to England. “While you’re in the Navy,” he said, “you can take college courses and when you get out the Navy will pay for you to take more college courses.
Kevin Stokes said, “I joined the DAV because I wanted to give back and tell the younger generation that freedom is not free. We put things on the line for you [while we were serving.] Thanks for donating to our organization.” Stokes regularly visits with the students in the Bridges program. At the end of their talk, the men passed out certificates of recognition to the students who helped with the fundraiser.
