The Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors received a $12,525 donation recently from Vet 2 Vet Service Dogs.

LaRae Hlavaty and Karen Alboucq of Lehighton were on hand at St. John’s Church in Mahoning Township to receive the donation.

The donation is on behalf of the all-volunteer nonprofit organization that helps veterans from any war and their families when they are faced with a financial crisis.

Vet 2 Vet Service Dogs, a veteran-founded nonprofit dedicated to training and placing service dogs with military veterans, provided the donation to Wounded Warriors.

The donation was made upon the recommendation of Clifford Gledhill, of Jim Thorpe, a Vietnam veteran who has long supported both organizations.

Gledhill served as a trusted adviser to Vet 2 Vet Service Dogs, and recognized the aligned missions of the two groups.

With his guidance, the remaining funds raised before Vet 2 Vet Service Dogs’ dissolution were directed to Wounded Warriors to ensure continued support for local veterans in need.

Hlavaty’s husband, Ron, had been an Army tank commander, specialist 5th class of the Armored Division — Old Ironsides, stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, while his brother served in Vietnam.

Ron died in 2020 after suffering anaphylactic shock from a hornet’s sting.

“The organization could never survive without the money that is abundantly given to us through these wonderful folks,” Hlavaty said. “The volunteers, every cent we receive goes directly to veterans in financial crisis.”

Alboucq said they are so grateful to Vet 2 Vet Service Dogs for their donation to the Wounded Warriors.

“Overwhelmed,” Alboucq said. “It was a wonderful service.”

Although Vet 2 Vet Service Dogs was forced to disband last year due to staffing shortages beyond its control, they remain deeply committed to the mission that inspired its formation of supporting fellow veterans in their healing journeys.

Vet 2 Vet Service Dogs was founded by veterans with service dogs, driven by personal experience and a deep understanding of the physical and emotional trauma that often follows military service.

The program operated on a mentorship model of pairing veteran trainees with graduates who could guide and support them, creating a cycle of healing and connection.

Through the dedication of its certified trainers, volunteer puppy raisers, and the veterans themselves, they successfully trained and placed service dogs at no cost.

The Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that helps veterans from any war and their families when they are faced with a financial crisis.

Veterans must be a Pennsylvania resident for at least 12 months, served for at least a year and received an honorable discharge.

Wounded Warriors will also assist veterans to help them recover from physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

If a veteran or veteran’s family meets the requirements, he or she should contact a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, Hlavaty said.