The Veterans Sanctuary Foundation is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, April 15 from 11:00AM to 3:00PM. The event will help raise funds for the BugOutVSF facility that is being constructed in Linneus, ME. The facility is being designed to “…help Veterans be able to decompress, work on their physical and mental needs, as well as learn trade skills to help them with their new career choices,” according to the group’s website.
The sanctuary is the brainchild and dream of local well-known resident, Zach Inman. When asked about his reason for starting the project, he said, “Jacob Inman, my son, is a disabled Navy veteran. He needed a location to live and had a family after his discharge and we had to locate resources for him. The GI Bill helped him with a housing allowance and attending college. A lot of his friends, with no labels on them, had no help getting out of the military and readjusting to civilian life. They were not interested in attending college so the GI Bill did not help them. We decided to help with that transition by giving them a 2-3 month place to stay, with room and board, and help them learn a new trade. That way it gives them a stepping stone.”
The initial fundraiser will help start the construction of the off-the-grid facility that is surrounded by a mile of wooded area, with a brook running through it. They will be putting in a gravel road, well for the property, demolition of an existing building off the property and reclaiming those materials to start construction on the land, and other preliminary work needed.
A BBQ and raffle will be held at the Elks Lodge, located at 1217 Boulder City Parkway. The suggested donation per meal is $20. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase as follows: $1 = 1 ticket, $20 = 25 tickets, $100 = 130 tickets. There are several baskets that can be won and there will be a silent auction as well.
For more information about the Veterans Sanctuary Foundation, you can read more at their website HERE. To monitor progress on the project and be in the loop on upcoming events to support this project, you can follow on Facebook HERE and Instagram HERE. If you’d like to volunteer with this month’s fundraiser or future events, you can contact Zach Inman at (702) 301-1405 or (702) 468-2704.
