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Veterans & Community Housing Coalition’s First Annual Red, White & Luau Brings Community Together in Support of Local Veterans

Veterans & Community Housing Coalition (VCHC) proudly hosted its inaugural Red, White & Luau fundraiser on Saturday, July 11, at Gavin Park in Wilton, welcoming more than 100 community members for an afternoon of food, family fun, and fundraising in support of local Veterans and their families. The event raised more than $3,000 to support VCHC’s housing and supportive services for Veterans and families experiencing housing insecurity.

The event combined patriotic spirit with a tropical twist, featuring a catered lunch from Capital City BBQ, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, local tastings, raffle prizes, and opportunities for community members to connect while supporting VCHC’s mission of providing housing and supportive services to Veterans and families experiencing housing insecurity.

“This event was created to bring our community together in a fun, family-friendly way while raising awareness and support for the Veterans we serve,” said Marian Eck, Associate Executive Director at Veterans & Community Housing Coalition. “Seeing so many families, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners come together for our very first Red, White & Luau exceeded our expectations. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the day such a success.”

More than 100 guests attended the event, with strong support from local businesses, organizations, and individual donors. In addition to ticket sales, attendees enthusiastically participated in raffle drawings throughout the afternoon, helping raise additional funds to support VCHC’s programs.

The success of the inaugural event was made possible through the generosity of event sponsors, raffle donors, volunteers, vendors, entertainers, and the dedicated planning committee that spent the past six months bringing the event to life.

“We are fortunate to live in a community that continually steps up to support those who have served our country,” said Diane Nazzaro, Executive Director of Veterans & Community Housing Coalition. “The overwhelming support we received for this first-year event is a testament to our community’s commitment to ensuring Veterans have access to safe housing, essential resources, and the support they deserve.”

Funds raised by the Red, White & Luau will help VCHC continue providing housing and supportive services to Veterans and families throughout Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, Washington, Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie counties.

Veterans & Community Housing Coalition extends its sincere gratitude to everyone who attended, sponsored, volunteered, donated, and helped make the inaugural Red, White & Luau an unforgettable day. Plans are already underway for next year’s event.