Atria Briarcliff Manor ElderAct meets with ECAD to help Veterans

Atria Briarcliff Manor’s ElderAct Group met with a local ECAD (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities) group on Tuesday to learn about the organization and find ways to support it.

ECAD has started a program that teaches at-risk kids how to train service dogs which are later given to veterans who are wounded warriors and benefit from the dogs presence. ECAD representative (Liaison to Veterans) Barbara Jenkle and wounded Veteran Phil Bauer came to present what the ECAD organization was all about. They talked about how much ECAD not only helps Wounded Warriors but also the at-risk children that train them.

Barbara and Phil also brought two of the service dogs from ECAD to show the ElderAct members of Atria Briarcilff Manor how helpful they are to the veterans.

The ElderAct Group of Atria Briarcliff Manor is a Rotary Club for seniors that is concerned with doing projects to help the greater community. The group at Atria Briarcliff has been writing supportive and appreciation letters to soldiers and veterans over the last two weeks.

The ElderAct group is now planning a reception for the veterans in the ECAD program as well as an appreciation event for the at-risk children who are training the service dogs.

Atria Resident Edith Barletta of the ElderAct Club said of ECAD, “I admire them for the program they are doing and look forward to supporting them.” 

Edith also stated about the ElderAct’s current project of writing letters to soldiers overseas, “these letters are so important. I remember when my husband was serving overseas; he always mentioned how my letters kept him going during those times.”

Director of the Veterans Service Agency of Westchester Vito Pinto was also in attendance and helped give direction on how the two groups could help one another.