Vets Roll teams with fair, local radio station
By Ryan Spoehr
SLN staff
Vets Roll, a non-profit organization in the state line area, sends senior veterans to Washington D.C. each year. This year, along with the Walworth County Fair, FM 106.1 and 96.1 The Lake, Vets Roll is sending relief funds to the Gulf Coast for Hurricane Harvey victims.
Just a week after Hurricane Harvey made its first landfall, Walworth County Fair-goers 1,000-plus miles away in Wisconsin were seemingly more than willing to lend a helping hand to those effected by the devastating storm that has claimed at least 63 lives and dumped as many as 52 inches of rain in parts of Texas and Louisiana.
Prior to the Martina McBride concert on Sept. 2, fairgoers reached into their pockets to help the victims along the Gulf Coast, and eclipsed the $10,000 goal set by Vets Roll and the fair, within minutes.
“It was pretty amazing. There was $16,800 raised in the grandstands that night,” Larry Gaffey, manager of the Walworth County Fair, said.
Typically a time when Vets Roll collects funds for its efforts for veterans, Mark Finnegan and others with the organization decided to forego those funds and donate them to the relief efforts by Wisconsin native, former Badger and current Houston Texan J.J. Watt.
“It was a no-brainer. I emailed and called our board members, and it was absolutely the right move,” Finnegan said. “We decided that, even though financially we’re not getting the donations, it’s for such a good cause. You can’t just say no.”
However, the donations kept piling in as people continued to donate after the concert Saturday night.
“The next day, we had people dropping off $100 donations,” Gaffey said.
On Monday, the count of funds raised was up to $17,400 and on Tuesday, it was reported to be approximately $18,000.
“It almost didn’t matter who came up with it. It was the fair-goers who gave the money. They reached into their pockets and donated the money,” Gaffey said.
Finnegan addressed the crowd prior to the McBride concert to explain the change in the organization’s fundraising plans. There were 50 volunteers with canisters who dispersed through the crowd following Finnegan’s presentation to collect money for the cause.
“We have our differences in this country, but we all support that flag,” Finnegan said pointing to an American flag. “So, we are continuing it tonight … Please give from your heart.
“Whether it’s one penny or one dollar, it all counts the same.”
Billy Dock, a Kenosha veteran who volunteered at the fair for Vets Roll, went on the Vets Roll trip earlier this year to Washington D.C. He said he volunteered as a way of giving back. When plans changed on Saturday night to give to hurricane relief efforts, he fully supported it.
“I’m glad we did this,” Dock said.
The fundraising kicked off while Finnegan introduced World War II veterans and one of the vets put $100 into a canister Finnegan was holding.
