Veterans’ charity responds to letter
Editor’s note: This is in response to Henry Purnell’s letter published in the June 22 edition of Hernando Today.
Henry Purnell, who failed to mention he is the owner of our competitor, Veterans Action Project, stated that our organization, Hernando Veterans Aid, is not registered for 2011. This is totally false. As required by law, our annual report was filed on April 27, 2011. (Document No. N10000002815, Confirmation No. 100204912461).
We are a 501 C-3 charity (highest rating), and all of our donations are tax deductible. The only correct thing Mr. Purnell stated in his letter was our address. I work from my home rather than an office so that we may contribute more to our needy veterans and their families in Hernando County. Mr. Purnell claims to have an office located in Hernando County, as well as his home office in Pasco County. The address given for the Spring Hill office is 13808 Linden Drive, Spring Hill. There is no Veterans Action Project office located at this address, as of this date.
The Veterans Action Project has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars from the good folks in Hernando County over the past several years but has failed to give back to our local veterans, not even a small percentage. The funds raised in Hernando County are, for the most part, going to his home office in Pasco County and do not help our Hernando veterans. Our referrals for monetary assistance come from Matt Peters, manager of Hernando Veteran Services; Keith Growe, clinical social worker, V.A. clinic, Brooksville; Jean Rags and Donna Moore, Hernando Health and Human Services; and veteran requests.
We have answered every request we have received since our existence. Aside from individual assistance, we also provide Thanksgiving and Christmas gift baskets, holiday calling cards for our troops in the Middle East, donations to other veteran charities in Hernando County, such as “Lea’s Prayers and Postage” in Masaryktown, and the Marine Corps League in Hernando Beach. For Memorial Day, we provided 850 cemetery flags to Rich Howard, sexton, Brooksville Cemetery. With every donation received, we provide a “recipient’s list” showing exactly where the donations are being used so that our sponsors can see where their dollars are being spent. The Veterans Action Project provides nothing but a receipt for their donations.
We have helped scores of veterans and their families over the past year in Hernando County — more than the Veterans Action Project has helped in the past 16 years of taking donations from our good people in Hernando County. I should know. I managed his Spring Hill office for over 14 years. That’s the reason we opened our charity so we could help our local veterans in Hernando County exclusively.
Unfortunately, Mr. Purnell cannot stand the competition and cannot or will not provide his sponsors with a “recipient’s list” in Hernando County and will persist in attempting to undermine our local charity. Our sponsors will not be dissuaded by Mr. Purnell’s mudslinging tactics.
Thanks to all of our sponsors in Hernando County, we look forward to our continued success in being able to provide much help for our local veterans. For those who still contribute to the Veterans Action Project, good luck to where your donations are being used. We know your hearts are in the right place.
If you would really like to help out our local vets here in Hernando and want to see how your donations are being used, give us a call at 352-754-8500. Thanks.
Earl Hillis, manager
Hernando Veterans Aid
Brooksville
