Breaking a sweat for vets — Veterans charity selected as Season of Sharing recipient
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Started by local veterans nine years ago, Sweat for Vets helps local service members, veterans and their families who are in need and local veterans-related organizations.
Sweat for Vets is the Mirror's 2023 Season of Sharing fundraising campaign recipient.
The nonprofit was founded by Jordan and Tiffany Settle of Altoona, Jayme and Donnie Rhodes of Hollidaysburg and Dusty Kunstbeck of Altoona.
Jordan Settle and Jayme Rhodes served as Army officers in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom VII. Kunstbeck served in the Navy.
"We moved back to the area, and there was a lack of local fundraisers to unite veterans around Veterans Day," Jayme Rhodes, who serves as president of Sweat for Vets, said.
They organized a trail race, and what is known as the Sweat for Vets Challenge has grown through its 10 years.
Its most recent effort expanded to include a Young Recruits Race, geared for 5 to 12 year olds to make it a more inclusive family-friendly event in addition to the traditional 5K run/walk and a 10K challenge run.
They've raised more than $130,000.
"We're excited to help this grassroots organization," Mirror Publisher Dan Slep said. "They recognized a need and organized to meet the needs of veterans. Local veterans embraced the race events as an opportunity to meet through a shared love of fitness. Their outreach effort has grown to include a foundation founded in 2018 to lend area veterans and families educational support."
Since 2005, Season of Sharing uses the reach of the local newspaper and altoonamirror.com, the expertise of the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation and residents' generosity to benefit area nonprofits.
The annual holiday appeal, now in its 19th year, has raised $376,254 since its inception.
Last year's campaign raised $37,198 for the St. Vincent de Paul Assumption Chapel Food Pantry.
Sweat for Vets puts the monies raised to use in its service area, primarily Blair and adjacent counties, and partners with other local and regional organizations such as Victory Therapeutic Horsemanship in Tyrone, the local VA hospital and veterans home and U.S. Armed Forces Mothers of Altoona.
"We're very honored to be named," Jayme Rhodes said. "We all have so much passion for the organization. We all work full-time and donate 100% of our time to our nonprofit. It's great that we can raise more money and give more to local veterans. It will be awesome."
Local residents want to help veterans and their families, but they often don't know how, Jayme Rhodes said, the organization has "a lot of connections" in the veterans community.
"Sweat for Vets has been an integral part of supporting the VA's goal to end veteran homelessness. They have been so generous when contacted to provide support to veterans to assist with utility payments, rental assistance and other basic needs," said Melinda Shea, Health Care forHomeless Veterans supervisor at Van Zandt VA Medical Center.
"The Health Care for Homeless Veterans team at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center relies on community partners to assist with needs that veterans have to obtain and maintain safe and stable housing, employment and provide for their families when struggling. Sweat for Vets has supported this VA in this mission to serve those who have served us. This group has generously sponsored veterans with needs to assist them in getting employment, transportation and basic needs met. They have supported our veterans by sponsoring rental assistance, car repairs, basic needs such as food and utilities, as well as being a general support when other needs arise. This team, and the veterans and their families we serve, have been grateful to have Sweat for Vets as a community partner and advocate forveterans."
Another local organization that Sweat for Vets helps is the U.S. Armed Forces Mothers of Altoona, a support group for mothers and active military families.
Sweat for Vets has aided the organization with funds to pay postage costs for care packages sent to soldiers, said President Patty Davis.
Sweat for Vets has donated an estimated $15,000 over several years.
Sweat for Vets board member Joe Richards of Hollidaysburg became involved with Sweat for Vets because he was looking to help other veterans like himself.
"At the root of it is wanting to help people. After retirement from the Army, I looked at it as the next way to help the community I'm part of and care about," he said.
He's proud of the organization's mission to help veterans on a case-by-case basis, such as one veteran whose refrigerator stopped working at a time when the soldier couldn't afford to replace it.
"We know where every dollar goes, and we make sure that 100% of the dollars raised go in the right direction," Richards said.