Veterans of Foreign War receive $200K in donations for new roof
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Veterans at VFW Post 8900 in Fresno can breathe a little easier about paying for repairs to their roof that collapsed last summer after they received $200,000 from the City of Fresno and Chevron Friday.
Assemblywoman to help Veterans of Foreign Wars in Fresno with new roof
Veterans at the VFW say there are not words to describe how grateful they are for this money.
They say the large donation has taken a weight off their shoulders after their insurance said last July they would not cover the cost of repairs.
“It was a shock to the community especially to the veterans that have been using this place as a place of gathering,” said Assemblymember Esmerelda Soria.
She says she and Fresno City Council Member Annalisa Perea have been working frantically for months to try to find funding for the new roof after the VFS’s insurance said it would not cover the cost.
“It’s the least we could do for those who fought so hard for our freedom,” said Council Member Perea.
$150,000 comes from the city’s Arpa funding and the additional $50,000 is a donation from Chevron.
The new roof has been installed and final repairs to the main hall are underway.
Commander of Post 8900 Willie Tate Jr. says a lot of the repairs were done at a discounted rate, but the bill still climbed to well over $250,000.
“We had gotten a start and we had run out of funds we were waiting in fundraising and stuff like that and the anxiety was hitting us hard and since we had individuals step forward, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Commander Tate Jr.
Veterans say they hope to reopen the main hall by mid-June and they plan to throw a party for themselves before opening it up for events.
