On Oct. 4, United Community Bank in Perham, Minn., hosted a Tailgate for Troops event in the nearby city of Frazee to raise money for the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that arranges trips for veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to their military service. The next trip is scheduled for April 20–22.
The $330 million-asset community bank put on the event before the homecoming football game at Frazee Senior High School and welcomed people across the community to make donations and purchase themed merchandise. Attendees could also support the organization by playing games of cornhole or participating in the parking lot cookout.
In the past year, United Community Bank’s three branches in Perham, Frazee and Dent have raised over $14,000 to help send veterans to Washington, D.C. The trips include thoughtfully organized itineraries, with notable stops being the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National Museum of the U.S. Army.
“I was with a gentleman and he said, tears in his eyes, ‘It took me 20 years before I got my first “thank you for your service,”’” said Joyce Perrine, consumer loan officer at United Community Bank.
In addition to the Tailgate for Troops event, United Community Bank actively supports the Veterans Honor Flight of ND/MN with initiatives like donation matching from local events, food trucks and community bake sales. The community bank’s efforts aim to honor and provide an unforgettable experience for veterans in the upper Midwest.