Augusta Warrior Project raising money to offset impact of seques - WFXG FOX54 Augusta - Your News One Hour Earlier

Augusta Warrior Project raising money to offset impact of sequestration on vets

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By Mark Barber - bio | email
AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -

Homeless, uneducated and unemployed, that's where many soldiers find themselves after they return home from war.

But the Augusta Warrior Project is working to make sure that when our troops return to civilian life they can find housing, work and get an education.

Saturday night about 350 people walked the red carpet into the Sacred Heart Cultural Center for the Shamrocks for Soldiers event.

It's the Augusta Warrior Projects biggest fundraiser of the year and Executive Director Jim Lorraine says there is a lot on the line.

"There's a lot of pressure, we do get a lot of support for the community but we do need more support," Lorraine, said.  

The annual event has taken a different turn this year because the forced spending cuts have hit Augusta's military community hard.

"Services and support will drop off. It's already been identified at Fort Gordon and also through the V.A.," said Lorraine.  

He says last year they housed 124 veterans, found work for 83 soldiers and enrolled 120 veterans in school. Lorraine says they hope to continue providing that help along with extra assistance to veterans affected by the spending cuts.

Hugh Conlon, a decorated war vet, retired from the Army in 2007.

He doesn't know what the budget cuts mean for him yet but he's already receiving help from the Augusta Warrior Project so he can get his military benefits. 

"I tried to do it myself and it didn't work. I tried other organizations and I got a lot of lip service. But the Augusta Warrior Project has actually followed through," Conlon, said.

Conlon gave of himself on the battlefield and Saturday night many people were happy to give of their resources for him and the others who put their lives on the line for our country.

"The CSRA Warrior Project has actually helped people that we personally know as a family, it's a great cause," said donor Jeff Asselin.

MedEx Associates coordinated the event and they say they hope to raise $20,000 for the Augusta Warrior Project.

Lorraine says that would cover about 10% of their costs for the next year.

If you'd like to give to the Augusta Warrior Project, head over to their web site: http://www.augustawarriorproject.org/