Bethanne Lode, secretary and treasurer of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 991, and Lea Morsovillo, Auxiliary President, promote the Auxiliary's Vets Need Pets Project. (Supplied photos)
Marrs-Meyer Auxiliary kicks off Vets Need Pets Project
By Kelly White
Marrs-Meyer American Legion Auxiliary Unit 991 has partnered with the Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League to provide pets to Worth Village resident veterans at no cost.
Located at 11001 S. Depot St, Worth, this is the first time the legion has hosted the Vets Need Pets Project.
“We believe that many different types of support are needed for all veterans,” Bethanne Lode, Secretary and Treasurer of the Marrs-Meyer American Legion Auxiliary Unit 991, said. “This is just another creative way we are trying to support the veterans in our local communities.”
Through the project, any veteran residing within the Village of Worth who is interested in adopting a shelter pet through this program must apply for a pet adoption at the Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League, 10305 Southwest Hwy, Chicago Ridge.
Once the veteran has chosen their new best friend and have been approved by the shelter, the legion’s Auxiliary Unit will pay the Welfare League directly for the pet adoption.
“Currently, we have not been contacted by any veterans wishing to adopt and we are seeking and actively pursuing getting the word out in any way possible so that veterans know that this is available to them,” Lode said.
This is the first time the Auxiliary has hosted this program and organizers are hoping to continue it on in the future.
Lode explained there are several reasons why a pet can be beneficial to our nation’s heroes.
“We always see a need for veterans of all ages to have a pet,” Lode said. “The animals assist in loneliness that accompanies being an elderly veteran living alone. In the younger combat veterans, we find that short of being a medically trained companion animal, simply having a pet gives much needed comfort for veterans that are dealing with PTSD and re-acclimation to society in the norm.”
Auxiliary members noticed that some animal shelters sometimes offer a discounted rate to veterans, and they thought they would try a different approach.
“After many months of discussion, we came up with and agreed upon this one-year program and assigned a certain amount of funding for the 2023 trial year to provide pets at no cost to the veteran for the adoption process,” Lode said.
Funding for the project was provided by monies earned during the legion’s annual Poppy Day fundraiser held each May on the Thursday prior to Memorial Day.
“The funds collected on the streets within the Village of Worth by our great volunteers, along with the business donation support can only be used for veterans needs and assistance,” Lode said.
At this time, the auxiliary’s current funding can help assist up to five veterans with pet adoptions. Veterans interested in adopting a pet can contact the Marrs-Meyer American Legion Auxiliary Unit 991.
The project will be available through December 31, 2023, or until funding is depleted. However, donations are also being accepted to provide pets to even more veterans.
Checks may be made payable to Marrs-Meyer Auxiliary 991 and mailed to the post home ATTN: Vets Need Pets – 11001 S. Depot St. – Worth IL 60482.
“We are always grateful to accept the public’s support for our projects and any donation is always deeply appreciated,” Lode said.
Local News
Area Sports Roundup: Marist leads way with 11 wrestlers heading to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer An army of area wrestlers is headed to the state tournament, with 49 set to hit the mat in Champaign. During sectional action on Feb. 12, area wrestlers feasted on opponents. Marist will send 11 to the tournament, which begins Thursday at State Farm Center on the University…
Paczki Day ahead, not behind
Spread the loveBy Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 If you read my column online last week, you might remember my reference to Paczki Day. I thought it took place on Feb. 9. I was shopping at a Jewel outside our neighborhood around that date, and I asked…
Man charged in string of armed robberies in Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Hickory Hills
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong A Chicago man has been charged in a string of armed robberies that took place in Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Hickory Hills and other communities. He was charged February 2 for the December 28 robbery of the Shell station at 12121 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Palos Heights. Palos Heights police…
Campaign 2020: Civil Rights attorney ShawnTe Raines-Welch to seek judgeship
Spread the loveBy Ray Hanania Civil Rights attorney ShawnTe Raines-Welch has announced her candidacy for one of two vacancies for judge in Cook County’s 4th Subcircuit in the June 28 primary election. Raines-Welch specializes in legal work for municipal governments, including cities, school districts, park districts and other local taxpayer-funded public bodies at an established…
Campaign 2020: 11 elected officials endorse Newman in primary
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Marie Newman’s bid to win the Democratic nomination in the new 6th Congressional District picked up steam Tuesday when 11 elected officials in Cook and DuPage counties announced they were endorsing her in the June primary over fellow incumbent Sean Casten. “Congresswoman Marie Newman has been a very strong and effective…
Owner dispels rumors of Royalberry closing
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong Frank Salman, owner of Royalberry Waffle House and Restaurant in Palos Heights, has a simple message: “We’re not closed!” Salman said rumors have been rampant in the area that his restaurant of 17 years suddenly closed at the corner of 127th Street and Ridgeland Avenue. “We are not closed. We are…
Things were poppin’ at Valentine’s event
Spread the loveBy Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 Last Saturday I stopped in at the Valentine Small Business Pop-Up at Monarca, on the northwest corner of 63rd and Spaulding. I really enjoy these events. I always walk out spending more than I planned, this…
The next correspondent could be you
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac GSWNH Columnist At-Large This week, it’s my privilege and pleasure to write the Greater Southwest News-Herald’s column for Greater Ashburn (the Wrightwood, Ashburn, Parkview and Scottsdale neighborhoods). Greater Ashburn has not had a correspondent in this newspaper since Carolina Franco stepped away from writing this column back in late 2019. Anyway,…
A one-two punch against internet freedom
Spread the loveBy Thomas L. Knapp On Feb. 10, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the EARN IT (Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies) Act, setting it up for possible adoption as a free-standing bill; or more likely, as a last-minute sneak amendment to one of Congress’s periodic so-called “must pass” legislative packages.…
GOP opponents not laying a glove on Irvin
Spread the loveBy Rich Miller I was a bit flabbergasted to see last week that Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin told a blatant falsehood on a southern Illinois radio station. But what came after that helps us see how the Republican primary will play out for the next four and a half months. If you…
Neighbors
ANALYSIS: ‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to call for cuts
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com When Gov. JB Pritzker proposed his budget for the upcoming fiscal year in February, he sought authority from lawmakers to raise more than $1 billion in revenue through various changes to the state tax code. Among other things, he sought to raise $526 million through extending an expiring…
State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State officials kicked off the private renovation of the building which once served as the state government’s Chicago headquarters. The James R. Thompson Center, as it was known under state ownership, was sold in 2022 to a development firm that is renovating the building for its…
Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com As state lawmakers hold hearings targeting the role of pharmacy benefit managers – an influential arm in how the health insurance industry prices prescription drugs – multiple state agencies are considering how to better regulate the industry. Often referred to as pharmaceutical “middlemen,” PBMs act as third-party intermediaries…
Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for community-based after-school programs say as many as 40,000 youths statewide could lose access to tutoring services, recreation and other extracurricular activities this summer unless Illinois lawmakers approve an infusion of funds to keep them going. “The time is now for legislators to act to…
Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Rampant sexual abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades. The plaintiffs were boys between 12 and 17 years old when the alleged abuse occurred and…
House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that…
Remembering Lee Milner
NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…