Annual Milford Sept. 11 Charity Dinner Canceled

MILFORD, MA — An annual charity dinner in Milford is canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The local nonprofit Thanks To Yanks has been holding a 9/11 dinner every year since 2006. The event is free for military members, veterans, first responders and their families.

The 2019 9/11 dinner featured speakers and awards for veterans. Marines Lance Corp. Matthew Rodriguez, of Fairhaven, received the Thanks To Yanks Medal of Liberty. Rodriguez died in 2013 while serving in Afghanistan, but his colleague, Maj. Alex Mora, attended the dinner to present the award.

Instead, Thanks To Yanks founder Michael Shain is asking that people who usually support or attend the dinner give back to the community in some form. Throughout the year, the nonprofit sends care packages to military members serving overseas, in addition to other events.

Thanks To Yanks typically holds a spring fundraising event to support the 9/11 dinner and other charitable events throughout the year.