BBQ catering is not just about cooking

24 PUCKETT Live Fire Tables

Army SPC “Pudge” Puckett, who lives with 100% combat-related injuries,  is eagerly awaiting fabrication of 2 Live Fire tables like this one for his Diamond 9 Company BBQ Catering business in middle Tennessee.  Work Vessels for Vets was once again pleased to partner with The Semper Fi & America’s Fund to share the $6000 cost of these custom-made Live Fire Pits by The Metal Guys of Knoxville. 

“BBQ catering is not just about cooking – it’s about creating an unforgettable experience for clients and guests.  Fire tables play a pivotal role in this, not only providing a visually captivating element but also allowing for interactive and engaging cooking demonstrations,” Pudge Puckett.  “I am so grateful for this grant so I can expand my business and create more job opportunities for fellow veterans.”

Puckett will offer his authentic Texas-style barbecue, focusing on quality ingredients, slow-smoked meats, distinctive flavors at events throughout the Nashville and surrounding area.  Yum!

In Memoriam to Rick Crolius

Work Vessels for Vets mourns the loss of our Vice President and chief cheerleader, Navy veteran Richmond "Rock and Roll Rick" Crolius

In October 2023, we established the Rick Crolius Patriot Fund and honored Rick at his last fund-raising event to benefit our mission.  To honor his memory, Work Vessels for Vets will dedicate any donations made in his honor to this fund to be used for awards for emergency equipment repairs for past WVFV awardees.  

Rick Crolius Patriot Award Citation  Click to read

We will miss you, Rick!  

 

Work Vessels for Vets Awards $180,000 to 23 Injured Veterans in 18 states

 

Svejcar withhorse photo2023

Sgt Jeremy Svejcar, founder of Charlie Five, a non-profit giving horses to injured veterans and first responders,  received fa2023 SUNSHINE Attachmentrm equipment from WVFV using joint frunding from Semper Fi Fund.  AND  US Navy Chief CTRC Sierra Sunshine with her shipment of farm equipment from WVFV.   

Below, SGT Grayson Reed begins his new career as videographer with a state-of-the-art Sony HD Camera from WVFV. 

MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT.  This Veterans Day 2023, Work Vessels for Vets, a unique charity that awards equipment to injured veterans,  announces $180,000 in equipment and mentorship in 2023 to 23 veteran-entrepreneurs in 18 states across America.  These new entrepreneurs are overcoming severe combat injuries such as PTSD, TBI, and compromised bodies to embark on their dreams of self-employment. 

The volunteers of Work Vessels for Vets have learned that it is more than just an award of equipment to these injured American servicemen and women.  

23 REED Grayson w Camera

"We deliver real tools of change, keys to a new future and often a personal lifeline when needed most.  In turn, these American heroes inspire change by building companies, some now worth millions.  They create jobs for their fellow veterans and their communities.  All they really need is a hand up," says Cathy Cook of WVFV. 

Read more stories at ABOUT US on wvfv.org.

 

 About Work Vessels for Vets, Inc.:  Work Vessels for Vets (www.WVFV.org), awards America’s injured veterans with the tools they need to make a       successful transition from service-connected injuries to entrepreneurship.  Work Vessels for Vets has earned the highest charity ratings and        assures donors that 98 cents of every dollar goes directly to veterans, earning Top-Rated Nonprofit at GreatNonPRofits.org  and Platinum Level Rank from CANDID (formerly Guide Star) & other national awards.  Donations are fully tax deductible

 

WORK VESSELS FOR VETS EXPANDS TO US VIRGIN ISLANDS TO HELP INJURED MARINE

 2023 BOYEA planting with kids

June 2023 - USMC Lance Corporal Kimani Boyea received a Purple Heart from injuries while deployed in Iraq. Following rehabilitation, he returned home to St Croix and started Buddhoe Farms. The US Virgin Islands suffered many shortages during COVID when the shipments of food from the mainland were compromised. LCpl Boyea decided he could help his community and today he leases 36 acres of US government land to provide sustainable crops to the islands. He has a mission to teach fellow veterans and the children of St Croix how to grow their own food to decrease the need for imports.

Work Vessels for Vets partnered with The Semper Fi & America’s Fund to purchase a lawn tractor to clear land and assist with many chores on the farm.

Semper Fi, Kimani! Thank you for your service and Congrats on your new mission!

2023 Buddhoe Farms logo

Attention to Detail, Mississippi

2023 HERRING resize

JUNE 2023  Army National  Guardsman ALAN H of Mississippi is a Iraqi War veteran who came home with severe social anxiety and depression which affect his ability to work with other people and to hold a normal job. He has fought the demons of drugs and alcohol.  Now he is a recovering addict who is clean and sober for three years.  

“I am trying to start an auto detailing business to support my wife and two daughters,” says Alan.  “ My mobile auto detailing business will offer everything from a basic car wash, to paint correction and ceramic coatings. I also plan to do alloy wheel repair, paintless dent repair, vinyl wrapping, paint protection films, and window tinting.”

Alan’s worked hard with mentors and prepared hard to launch “Attention to Detail” this year.  With advice from his WVFV mentor, Work Vessels for Vets purchased a trailer and some equipment to get him on the road to success. 

Tools for Success to MAANG Major

2023 CULVERWELL Cook and Justin

 

2023 CULVERWELL Coops resize for web

July 2023  Work Vessels for Vets  presented Massachusetts Army National Guard Major Justin Culverwell with a set of assorted nail guns and a SawStop Safety Table Saw at our 15th Anniversary Party this week.  Maj. Culverwell started his new business, Brookfield Garrison to make and sell rough cut lumber products such as chicken coops, beehive stands and custom rough-cut lumber such as fireplace mantels.   He fells the trees, mills the lumber and assembles the products.  

It was a special pleasure to meet him and make the presentation before 130 or so of our regional supporters.  

Good luck, Major!  

BBB Serving Connecticut wants to remind people how to know when a charity is accredited, like Work Vessels for Vets.

 Work Vessels for Vets accredited charity  Click here for video message

Making sure your money goes to good causes

By Cassidy Williams

Published: May. 29, 2023 at 5:48 PM EDT |Updated: 16 hours ago

(WFSB-TV) - Memorial Day may inspire you to give to charities and organizations that help veterans, but unfortunately scammers want to take advantage of that kindness.

BBB Serving Connecticut wants to remind people how to know when a charity is accredited, like Work Vessels for Vets.

The nonprofit based in Southeastern Connecticut helps injured veterans start businesses all across the country.

“Since 2008, we have helped 2900 injured veterans with about 3.9 million dollars worth of equipment in all 50 states,” said Cathy Cook, Work Vessels for Vets executive director.

The nonprofit helped the company ‘Mystic Oysters’ get afloat in 2018. The business harvests thousands of pounds of fresh oysters every year.

“Dominion millstone powerplant in Waterford called me and said they were getting a new research vessel, would we like the old one?” said Cook.

Work Vessels for Vets gave the research Vessel to Marc Harrell at Mystic Oysters.

Cook knows with so many veteran charities out there, it can be hard to know who is actually helping.

“Unfortunately, there are those bad actors who will stand out a supermarket with a box and say ‘give to the veterans’, and you know what, it doesn’t go to the veterans,” said Cook.

BBB Serving Connecticut says you should always take the time to do research before donating to any charity.

“Give.org is a great place to start. BBB accredits charities just like it does businesses. They have to meet 20 requirements. You can go on there. You can look up a charity, and you can decide for yourself whether that’s a charity that you’d like to give your money to,” said Kristen Johnson, BBB Serving Connecticut director of communications.

If you look up ‘Work Vessels for Vets’, it is accredited and meets all 20 standards for charity accountability.

Cook is proud of that.

“Our real claim to fame honestly, is our overhead is less than 1%. Less than 1% of all the donations that come in are used for any kind of overhead for the business,” said Cook. “”It’s a pretty extraordinary nonprofit.”

Work Vessels for Vets is hosting its 15th birthday party at the Mystic Oysters location in Noank on July 14th. Tickets will be available online closer to the event date. Last year’s event raised more than $10,000.

Copyright 2023 WFSB. All rights reserved.

Work Vessels for Vets & Semper Fi & America’s Fund Join Forces to Equip SSG Steve Rossler, an Injured Texas Veteran and his Top-Rated Barbecue Business.

2023 ROSSLER photo by Daniel Vaughn rosslers blue cord bbq harker heightsMAY 2, 2023, Ft Hood area, TEXAS - Today, thanks to a gift of a state-of-the-art smoker from two veteran-serving charities, Army SSG Steve Rossler and his wife Kristen new business, Rossler’s Blue Cord Barbecue are taking their successful business to a new level to meet the great demand for their food in the Fort Hood, Texas region.  Work Vessels for Vets, an all-volunteer nonprofit with the mission to equip America’s injured veterans with the tools they need to start a business, and The Semper Fi & America’s Fund pooled their resources to purchase the $14,000 top-rated smoker mounted on a trailer. 

Kristen, Paisley, Julianne and I cannot express how grateful we are for both organizations for doing this for us. Sitting on top of a mountain in Wardak Afghanistan, I never would’ve even imagined that my duty to America would ever be rewarded like this,“ says SSG Rossler.  “With this second Moberg Smoker, we can double our capacity, going up to 40 briskets and not worry about selling out.” 

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INJURED MARINE FLYING HIGH WITH NEW DRONE FOR NEW BUSINESS!  

2023 MSGT SMALL with drone

2023 - We at WVFV love it when we can put a great deal together!  This is USMC MSGT Matt S. who retired with 80% disability rating following 3 tours In Afghanistan and Iraq.  He is pictured with his commercial drone setup for his new company, Small World Drones which specializes in aerial photography for individuals, law enforcement, real estate and construction professionals in Southeastern USA.  Work Vessels for Vets was able to purchase the drone and accessories at cost from Vigilante Drones, a very successful company started by USMC Maj. Dave Daly who received a grant of drones from WVFV in 2020.   

I am forever grateful for the grant and will do my best to pay it forward.  Thank you so much for this opportunity to expand my business.  Now the real work begins,” says Matt.   

Happy flying, MSGT Small!  

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