Auchinachie donates to $1,000 to Veteran's Canteen event
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Auchinachie donated $1,000 to a local veteran's program to cover the cost of coffee and donuts for two years.
Twice a month, Saint Mary's of the Assumption Church in Binghamton hosts a Veteran's Canteen in the parking lot, outside of the VA Medical Clinic on Court Street.
The canteen offers free coffee, donuts, and apples, for veterans, plus good conversation and camaraderie.
The charitable branch of Auchinachie called Auchinachie CARES, donated $1,000 to the canteen project to pay for the next two years' worth of donuts.
A coordinator of the event, Bernadette Mars says, many veterans live isolated, so the canteen is great way for them to get out and connect with others.
'The veterans that are a little bit older, and I think probably live alone, are the ones that linger for a long time. And so, our volunteer veterans will go sit with them on a bench and drink coffee and listen to their stories. And I think that's the biggest benefit really,' said Mars.
Mars says Thursday's are usually the busiest.
The canteen runs from May through October and comes together around Christmas time to hand out Christmas cards to the vets.
You can donate to the canteen project and get involved by calling Saint Mary's Church at (607)723-5383.
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