WNY Heroes Programs we're supporting
Heroes' Bridge
This program serves veterans and their families with financial assistance. It provides the veteran with up to 4 months rent, mortgage and utilities. The need is constant and funding is critical.
Operation B.O.O.T.S
“Battle Buddies on Our Troops Side”
The mission of this program is to bring veterans and their families together in a casual, non-clinical, non-threatening, setting in safe, fun environments that foster teamwork, networking and friendship.
Their motto is; "From defending our freedom to enjoying it."
Pawsitive for Heroes
With this program, WNY Heroes can provide service dogs to Veterans who are in medical need & medically referred through the VA Hospitals.
Pawsitive for Heroes has also partnered with both county and state correctional facilities around NYS. The dogs reside in each facility with the inmates for 10 mos where most of their training takes place. After their 10 mos, they are then permanently paired with their Veteran handlers. The Veteran and their new service dog will then work with us in our facility and around Western New York (WNY) for another 6-8mos, teaching the Veteran hand signals, voice commands, work on public access, restaurant edicate and more. Receiving a service dog is a big commitment to take on and takes ongoing education and skill.
The average cost for a fully trained service dog is $7,500. For those in need, this could be cost-prohibitive so Aurora Starfish Fund has sponsored two dogs to be donated to a veteran in need.
Joseph P Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Program
The program was named in honor of PFC Joseph P. Dwyer, a native of Suffolk County who served as an Army medic in Iraq. During a combat mission in Baghdad, he was photographed carrying an injured Iraqi boy. The photograph became iconic and was featured in newspapers across the country. After returning home, PFC Dwyer was honorably discharged from the U. S. Army, but was “never the same” and experienced a number of challenges reintegrating into the civilian community. He battled post-traumatic stress, depression and substance abuse for several years following his military discharge.
The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program brings United States Armed Forces Veterans, service members and their families together through Veteran-to-Veteran collaborative services, social activities, and community service, easing the transition from military to civilian life.