WNY Heroes News & Announcements

Huge shout-out to Peg Hoffman for her generosity toward our Operation Backpack program! Peg donated tons of hand-made, adjustable masks including those pictured. The Malory’s also stopped by and dropped of 10 scientific calculators!!!! These items and this program saves our local Veteran families so much money and makes the inevitable school supply scavenger hunts a lot less stressful. Look for the Op. Backpack application on line starting Aug. 1st. Thanks to everyone who donates to all of our programs!!!!

Our bookkeeper Rick had the honor and privilege to fly with our friend WWII Veteran Casey Bukowski. Casey was a B-17 waist gunner with 15 combat missions over Germany before his aircraft was shot down. He was one of 4 crewmember’s that survived. After parachuting out of the burning aircraft he was captured and spent 2 years in a German POW camp. Casey participates in many of our events at WNY Heroes. Thank you again Casey for your service!!!

A great day for the kids to come out and learn about WNY Heroes, our Pawsitive for Heroes programs and what service dogs do. The weather held out as we were nervous. Gave us a chance to meet so many people in our community. Thank to our #Veterans who came out with their service dogs to help educate everyone. Thank you Explore & More for reaching out to be a part of it all.

From Food Distribution to fundraiser with Cruise for a Cause Grand Lady Cruise Thank you to everyone who attended, you made the event that much better 😀👍🇺🇸 This was our 4th annual cruise for a cause and fun as always.

This is our 5th year teaching at the Niagara County Police Academy. For years now we have been teaching the federal laws and rights behind service dogs, ADA, & Veteran issues when dealing with Veterans. It’s always great to see these brave men & woman after actually out on the street doing their jobs. We have had the pleasure of interacting with many of them in the past and they are great. Keep up the hard work, stay safe and healthy always remember to make it back home no matter what.

If you are a Veteran and would like NYS FRESH CONNECTS Vouchers please feel to stop in our office at 8205 Main St., Suite #1, Williamsville 14221 M-F between the hourse of 0900-1600hrs. Each booklet is worth $20.00 Please stop in and see Robert Stutz or call our office at 716-630-5020

Buffalo Bitty Bombs are thrilled to officially announce our July Charity Bitty Bomb, dedicated to 𝘞𝘕𝘠 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘴! Their July “Bitty Pie” Ice Cream Bomb is a milk chocolate shell, filled with red, white & blue sprinkles, vanilla wafer bites, heath bar pieces & cinnamon flavored chocolate chips.🍦

When parents serve, their kids serve too. Order a smash box, 4 or 6 pack of ice cream sundae bombs and $5 from every purchase in July will be donated to the Little Heroes program.

Thank you Campfire Grill Depew & Clarence for your support. Remember, as a business you have rights as well. Real service dog or fake, you do reserve the right to ask them to leave if their dog is misbehaving. Thank you for showing our WNY community you care.

Testimonial: My late husband was a disabled Army combat veteran and had severe PTS among other things. The PTS affected his life, the lives of those close to him and ultimately was the reason he lost his life. He was part of the WNY Heroes Pawsitive for Heroes program and frequently took part in the peer to peer group outings. PTS took so much away from Terrance every day, whether it was not wanting to get out of bed, getting anxious just being around others, especially large groups of people, being afraid to let anyone into his life because of how many close friends he had lost. Trying to push away those who became close with him, because he couldn’t handle the pain of losing another person he was close to. He was always on guard, would have nightmares almost every night, waking up in a panic, self medicating with alcohol trying to numb the pain of memories just to start. PTS has taken so much from so many veterans. Terrance and our dog Chipper were accepted into the Pawsitive for Heroes program and began training. Shortly after training began I could see the difference. Chipper was always by Terrance’s side he was there to calm him down when Terrance would start getting anxious, when we would go places Chipper was always on lookout so Terrance could relax a little and let his guard down. Although nothing can take away PTS having Chipper as his service dog gave him back some of the freedom that PTS took away. I am so grateful for everything WNY Heroes did for my husband and continues to do for my family. They are so much more than just another organization. They truly are family.

US Army Veteran Kyle Alejandro who is part of our Pawsitive for Heroes service dog program carried the torch for Buffalo along with his awesome dog Sully. These two are amazing and have come thousands of miles together. If you could have seen Kyle before our program to were he is now. Thank you Kyle for your service.

Another amazing morning. We got to spend the starting of a weekend that is based on memories with Veterans. Remembering those brothers/sisters who gave their life for our country. Thank you #Padre for the extra special prayer. This morning we had 83 Veterans attend the breakfast for great food, laughs and lots of joking around. Thank you EVERYONE for your service. A special thank you to the staff here at The Original Pancake House for putting up with us and providing great service.

Recently, the Aurora Theater in East Aurora screen My Brother’s Keeper. This powerful film focused on PTS and Veterans helping Veterans. Thanks to Lynn and Lori (an Army Veteran herself) for their dedicated efforts in making it happen, and thanks to all those who came out to support WNY Heroes with their generosity!