St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) received a donation of $80,000 from the Department of Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Charles McLaughlin Post 906 in Hutchinson. This is the third year in a row that Post 906 provided a donation of this level to our eight State Veterans Homes located in Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Hastings, Luverne, Minneapolis, Montevideo, Preston and Silver Bay. Each Home will receive $10,000.

“Our Homes are dedicated to making sure Veterans truly feel at home,” said MDVA Commissioner Brad Lindsay. “A donation of this size is essential in helping to make sure our Veterans are provided the best in recreational programming and quality services, an enhanced physical environment and improved daily experiences with each other.”

Funding will be used to:

• Create a memorial wall on the grounds of the three newest Minnesota Veterans Homes in Bemidji, Montevideo and Preston where current and future Residents will be recognized.
• Develop and deliver new Resident activities and enhance existing programming.
• Purchase equipment designed to elevate Residents’ quality of life.

Each Home will determine how to apply the funds to best serve Veterans’ needs.

VFW State Commander David Staehlin shared that supporting the Minnesota Veterans Homes is an important part of the VFW’s mission and that the commitment from Post 906 is unprecedented. Commander Staehlin expressed appreciation to the Post as well as to the team representing our Homes for their exceptional efforts.

Post 906 Gambling Manager Doug Johnson and Assistant Charitable Gambling Manager Jerry Tews have led fundraising activities for many years. In the past three years they were able to ensure consistent support was provided to the Minnesota Veterans Homes.

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About MDVA
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is a cabinet-level state agency dedicated to serving Minnesota Veterans and their families. In addition to overseeing the eight State Veterans Homes, MDVA helps eligible Veterans and families secure state and federal benefits and provides programs and services relating to higher education, benefits, burial, claims, outreach and Veterans employment. Veterans and their families are encouraged to visit www.MinnesotaVeteran.org or call 1-(888)-LinkVet for more information about benefits.