Rotary Club of St. Catharines South recently donated $1,000 from Delta Bingo funds to Valhalla Project Niagara.



The Rotary Club of St. Catharines South (RCSCS) recently donated $1,000 to Valhalla Project Niagara.  Valhalla assists first responders and veterans who have difficulties with Post Traumtic Stress, by way of week long programs and ongoing support.  Shown in the photo are President Julio Batres-Gavidia (RCSCS); Shawn Bennett of Valhalla (fundraising chair) with his service dog Siren; and Dan Toppari, director (RCSCS).   The donated funds came from the revenue that Rotary receives from regularly volunteering at Delta Bingo.  The March edition of Rotary magazine contained an article about Chris Kolenda, a member of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.  He fought in Afghanistan, and 6 of his companions died there.  Last year, he bicycled 1,700 miles from Nebraska to Washington D.C. to visit the gravesites of his fallen comrades, and meet their families.  This article pointed out that the U.S. lost 7,000 in the fighitng in Afghanistan and Iraq; but 30,000 of those who fought there committed suicide.  Valhalla Project Niagara is to be commended for all the work they do to assist our local heroes who struggle dealing with the trauma experienced in their professions.
 
 
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