Helps veterans in need gain access to service dogs through donation.
Weigel’s celebrated the completion of its “More Wags for Warriors” fund raising campaign on Jan. 9, with an event at Weigel’s corporate office. The two-week fundraising event, which ended on Veterans Day weekend, was a huge success, raising $20,500 for the Smokey Mountain Services Dogs facilities campaign.
“We are grateful to the Weigel’s customers and employees who have so generously given,” said Mike Kitchens, board chair for Smokey Mountain Service Dogs. “It is only through the gracious efforts of folks like Weigel’s that we are able to serve our veterans in this meaningful way.”
The Smokey Mountain Service Dogs program provides at no charge to veterans in need specially-trained service dogs to aid in assistance and companionship. The local non-profit organization’s mission is to enhance the physical and psychological quality of life for veterans with service related disabilities through the training and placement of highly-trained service dogs. Through the “More Wags for Warriors” capital campaign, all funds raised go towards building a larger training facility in the 10-acre site in Lenoir City, Tenn.
“It is our goal to be able to have more service dogs available for our local veterans thru this program,” said Bill Weigel, chairman for Weigel’s. “We thank our customers and employees who generously gave and supported the campaign to make this event possible. It’s a small step for us in a much larger picture to help those that have so unselfishly sacrificed for all of us.”
Smoky Mountain Service Dogs was established in October of 2010, and has served over 21 veterans in the past 7 years.
Weigel’s operates 66 convenience stores, a dairy and a bakery, all within a 100-mile radius of corporate headquarters in Powell, Tenn.