Irv Stoffel leaned back in his overstuffed green chair and smiled.
"Nobody's taking this chair from me," he said.
The chair he spoke of is a lift chair, which helps him get in and out of his wheelchair.
His new wheelchair also is a gift he's not willing to give up. The electric-powered chair -- a Hoveround scooter -- was given to him by a local group through the Operation We Care program.
Chapter 6 of the Disabled American Veterans of Dubuque runs the Operation We Care program, which aids disabled veterans. The focus of the program is to address the needs of veterans and families of veterans in the tri-states who are not able to find help through another source of funding or charity.
"We help all veterans and their families. We go in and do it," said Jim Wagner, senior vice commander of the chapter.
From donating electric scooters and wheelchairs, to paying bills, to purchasing Christmas trees or presents, the DAV tries to help in anyway possible.
"We've done water bills, gas bills," said Commander Darryl Wiegand. "We try to help
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| If you would like to contribute to Operation We Care, send donations to Operation We Care c/o DAV Chapter 6, 2425 Division St., Dubuque, Iowa, 52001. |
Some of that help even comes out of pocket, as funds are limited.
While the program has been given grants from the Dubuque Racing Association, those funds are almost exhausted. Wiegand and Wagner said they are hoping July turns money woes around.
Dubuque Mayor Roy Buol has proclaimed July as "Operation We Care" month. In honor of the month, Miracle Car Wash will be holding its second annual charity fund drive for the program.
"They've been wonderful," Wiegand said.
Epic Construction will match 100 percent of the money raised.
The fundraiser is something the program needs in order to help veterans like Stoffel.
Although Stoffel had received an electric scooter from the Veterans Administration, it was bulky and hard to maneuver through his apartment.
His electric-powered chair from Operation We Care, however, has made a world of difference.
"This is just great," he said. "You can spin on a dime and it gives nine cents back. This one here is much more convenient."
The lift chair he received also was a relief to his wife, Rosemary, who no longer has to strain to help her husband move from chair to chair. With his new equipment from Operation We Care, Irv is able to get around with ease.
"Thank God for Darryl and Jim," he said. "They've been treating us like a million dollars."
Irv's "thank-you" is enough for Wiegand and Wagner to know they are doing the right thing.
"The most rewarding part is, for me, it's giving back a little bit to the veterans," Wagner said. "The veterans are probably the most important people."
