Donors replace stolen household items — and add more — for veterans

Donors replace stolen household items — and add more — for veterans
Ron Hernandez

furniture drive has more than replaced the losses Moving Veterans Forward experienced in a Christmas Day theft.

“Our veterans are going to have Christmas Day every day for the rest of the year,” organization founder Ron Hernandez said.

On Christmas, the Papillion-based nonprofit group’s trailer was stolen from the Millard American Legion parking lot along with $4,000 worth of kitchen supplies.

After learning that insurance wasn’t going to cover the stolen trailer and items, Hernandez decided to hold a “furniture fundraiser.”

The event was Jan. 12 at the Millard American Legion parking lot.

“We expected to fill one-half of a semitrailer, but we ended up filling two semitrailers donated by Werner (Enterprises) and two 30-foot delivery trucks,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said he could probably help house 30 to 35 veterans with all of the donations from the furniture fundraiser alone, not including what he already has stored in his warehouse.

Moving Veterans Forward helps provide homeless veterans free furniture and other household items after they find housing.

The organization also helps move them into their homes.

It moved 279 veterans around the metro area in 2018 and 1,249 since the program’s beginning in 2011.

Even after receiving all of the furniture donations, Hernandez is still raising money to replace the stolen trailer.

The goal is to raise $3,800 and so far he’s raised $700.

To make donations or to volunteer, contact Hernandez at 402-301-6300 or email him at [email protected].

“It was a minor tragedy,” Hernandez said of the theft, “but it was a great blessing that we received all of these donations from everybody.”

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