I would like to start by thanking everyone who has supported the Bob Brinker Memorial Veterans Foundation over the last three years. With your help and generous donations, we have continued Dad’s legacy of honoring and assisting veterans, active military and first responders.
I would also like to apologize for not updating the website on a regular basis. We post daily on our Facebook page and share photos on our Instagram and Twitter accounts but I often forget to give detailed accounts on our actual website. I am working now to finish posts and add photo galleries.
Here is a quick update on the work we are doing:
- We have continued our annual tradition of playing Santa for our veterans and active military in California and Michigan. In 2017, we conducted a toy drive with The Perky Nerd in Burbank to provide Christmas presents to the children of the 730th Transportation Company. I also traveled with the East Pasadena American Legion Ladies Auxiliary to the VA in Long Beach, California on Christmas day to deliver gifts to veterans residing in the spinal injury unit. In addition, we have made it an annual tradition to partner with the Women’s Marines Association to deliver Christmas gift bags to homeless female veterans at the VAs in Saginaw and Detroit, Michigan. We post on social media the items that we purchase for these ladies using the funds we raise at our golf classics.
- We started receiving requests from veterans needing emergency assistance here in Michigan and in other states. Whether it is helping a disabled veteran make a car payment when they have unexpected moving expenses or helping them get their furnace fixed before the polar vortex hits, we are becoming a reliable resource for veterans in need.
- We continue to buy meals for veterans and active military at VFW events and dinners. We have sponsored veterans at barbecues, steak-outs, spaghetti dinners and company reunion dinners.
- We collect, purchase and distribute toiletries and essentials to homeless veterans.
- We purchased and delivered meals to first responders on Patriots’ Day. We also put together treat bags for K9 first responders. Patriots’ Day deliveries will now be an annual event for us, hoping to reach more and more police stations and fire stations each year.
Our goals for the future include:
- Bringing back Operation Easter Basket, an effort we started with Dad to send care packages to our troops serving overseas.
- Bringing back our bowling events (hopefully with Detroit Tigers mascot Paws). We already have an event scheduled at Bowl One in Troy for June 2nd. Stay tuned for details.
- Providing emergency kits to K9 first responders in Dad’s memory.
- Assisting with gravestone cleaning at Great Lakes National Cemetery.
- Making more trips to the local VA and VA homeless shelter.
- Conducting another knit-a-thon and possibly a quilt-a-thon to collect homemade scarves and blankets for our veterans.
- Opening a veterans support center called Bob’s Place (long term goal).
- Partnering with other groups to create a veterans village for homeless veterans (long term goal).
- Creating a Vietnam Veterans memorial at Great Lakes National Cemetery (long term goal).
I am sure I may have missed something in these lists. We have a lot that we do on a regular basis and I add to our lists every day when I ask myself, “What would Dad do?” For him, helping his fellow veterans was like breathing, he just did it without thinking. If something needed to be done, he would find a way to get it done and that is what we are doing. In fact, that has become our new motto, “What would Bob do?” So stay tuned (and I will do my best to keep the website updated).
Again, thank you all for your continued support. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
~Kelly
