Veterans affairs. Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association raises $10,000 to assist Hudson Valley veterans

The Mid-Hudson chapter of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, Inc. (NYSCOPBA) held its first charity golf tournament at Apple Greens Golf Club in Highlands to benefit the Rumshock Veterans Foundation.

The event, held Friday, Aug. 20, raised $10,000 to address the needs of Hudson Valley area veterans.

Twenty three teams participated and helped raise awareness of the acute problems that veterans face upon returning home from deployment in Afghanistan and other areas of conflict around the globe. These include housing, employment and mental health. There are more than 40,000 homeless veterans in the United States and there are more than 24 veterans suicides a day. According to the Rumshock Veterans Foundation, more veterans are lost to suicide than to combat.

There are five components to the Rumshock Foundation’s sustainable program:

1) A tiny home community of affordable housing for veterans that is both ADA and LEED certified;

2) Employment with hydroponic farming, maintained by village residents;

3) Employment with E-Waste recycling, involving the recovery of materials to be used in future production;

4) Victory transportation to assist village residents in making appointments to health care providers and other necessities; and

5) Canine companionship that provides trained dogs as emotional support.

“We are incredibly grateful to the members of NYSCOPBA for their generosity and commitment to help our veterans,” said Peter Lyons Hall, a board member of Rumshock who was there to receive the check from Chris Moreau, the Mid-Hudson Region vice president. “We know that NYSCOPBA has a consistent record of sponsorship of veteran activities in the region and were humbled that they selected our foundation as a recipient this year.”

NYSCOPBA represents more than 26,000 New York State employees and retirees from the Security Services Unit.