Veterans Suicide Prevention Coalition to Join Annual Fishing Event in Orange County
A coalition that has distributed over 50,000 veteran suicide prevention materials will staff an information table at Thruway Sporting Goods' fishing event in Walden on March 28.
The Orange County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition will bring its outreach mission to a fishing event in Walden this month, setting up an information table at the Thruway Sporting Goods Annual Fishing Event on Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 78 Oak Street.
District Attorney David M. Hoovler, along with Carl LoFaro and Lenox Okall of the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System and Joel Murns of the Middletown Vet Center, announced the appearance on March 12. Coalition representatives will distribute veteran crisis materials and veteran benefits information at the table, and will also provide details on the Middletown Vet Center and Heroes, Cowboys & Companions, Inc., an organization that runs programs supporting veterans and first responders.
Anyone who wants to go beyond the handouts can speak with representatives on site from the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System, the District Attorney's Office, and the Middletown Vet Center. Coalition staff are also available to arrange future presentations to groups interested in suicide prevention.
The coalition was formed in November 2021 when Hoovler partnered with the Hudson Valley VA Healthcare System with the explicit goal of preventing veteran suicides in Orange County. Since then it has placed over 50,000 suicide prevention materials across more than 1,200 businesses, events, and organizations in the area. The coalition has also visited several veteran organizations and sportsmen's clubs directly to speak about prevention, and is seeking additional groups to address.
"I am proud of the work that the Orange County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition has done for Orange County veterans and their families and of the strong support that has been provided to the coalition by the citizens and businesses of Orange County including Thruway Sporting Goods, Thruway Ace Hardware & Home [...]"
The March 28 event at Thruway Sporting Goods will feature raffles, special fishing tackle sales, door prizes, and industry representatives from Pure Fishing on hand to advise on fishing products. The coalition views the annual gathering as an opportunity to extend its reach into a community that includes many veterans and their families.
Reporters or groups interested in arranging a future presentation can contact press liaison Ryan Greenbaum at 845.615.3657 or 845.415.0868.
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