Wendy's Gives Military Families Some Help

Johnstowne, Cambria County - Jessie Anderson's husband will be heading to Afghanistan in a matter of weeks. She's a mother of two, her youngest Elana is just 2-years old, and suffers from a rare genetic disorder which hurts her liver, and after a recent setback, she says she needs money.

"The grant couldn't have come at a better time, our refrigerator somehow went, I guess I didn't realize it while in the mix with FRG stuff, and along with the refrigerator going, went $200,000 of her medicine."

The proceeds from Wendy's keytag fundraiser is donated to the state's VFW department, and get channeled through to families like the Anderson's. Anderson says the money's needed for Elana.

"Being a recipient of this scholarship, family money has tremendously helped our family, its allowed us to purchase more low-protein foods for Elana that we can only purchase through genetically engineered stores online, these are not things that we can find in a local supermarket..."

Ruth Fairchild is the Commander for the state's VFW; she says there's any number of reasons why military families need help.

"Sometimes they're going to lose a home, they're having trouble with rent, they're having utility issues, and sometimes it's a vehicle issue, where they need their vehicle, for their livelihood to keep working."

The National Guard's Military Program Office helps the VFW figure out which guard families are expecting difficult situations. Fairchild says when a family needs something, they verify it, and generally they get a check within 72 hours. But Fairchild says they could still do more.

"I wish all Wendy's across the state would get involved, not just the central region, because we have veterans all across the state that need as much help as we can give them."

And all those who donated aren't walking away empty handed. Everyone who donated a dollar gets a free Jr. Frosty when they eat at Wendy's through the end of the year.