North Shore Disabled Veterans Raise Money For LA Wildfire Relief

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — The North Shore chapter of the Disabled American Veterans are raising money to help those affected by the California wildfires through the DAV Disaster Relief Program.

The DAV Disaster Relief Program was created in 1968 and since the program's inception in 1968, more than $19.5 million has been disbursed to veterans as a result of the DAV relief efforts.

"When disasters strike, DAV and its team of National Service Officers are on the ground to help our nation's heroes," E.F. Gilmore DAV Commander Jeffrey Blonder said. "DAV provides relief through financial assistance as well as supply kits to veterans and their families so they can obtain basic necessities such as food, warm clothes and shelter."

In 2022, DAV provided a total of $2,052,500 in emergency relief drafts and roughly 975 supply kits to the disaster relief program.

"Your gift will help ensure we are able to continue to support our nation's heroes during trying times such as these well into the future," Blonder said. "Due to a generous benefactor, all contributions will be matched."

Any resident who would like to contribute to this program can mail a check to DAV Disaster Relief Fund, c/o E. F. Gilmore DAV, 8 Pine Street, Swampscott, MA 01907. Last year the E. F. Gilmore DAV raised over $500 to support veterans of natural disasters.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)