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Youngwood Shop 'n Save donates to veterans' foundation

Tribune-Review (Greensburg, PA) - 7/31/2015

July 31--Customers at the Youngwood Shop 'n Save store helped raise more than $6,000 toward $20,957 donated to a foundation that helps combat-wounded veterans.

Officials from the grocery store chain presented a check Tuesday to the Maryland-based Feherty's Troops First Foundation on Tuesday at the Youngwood store.

"We can't thank them enough," said Jim Smail, a foundation board member.

Smail said the funds will help support veterans who often need it long after their service is over.

"It is important to remember so many give so much," he said. "We have an all-volunteer armed service and they give so much; oftentimes it's with their lives or severe injuries."

He said 22 veterans per day commit suicide, a number that should be eliminated with more support to help veterans adapt to the reality of injuries and service overseas.

"We as Americans need to be involved to help those who have given so much for all of us," Smail said.

During the weeks leading up to the Westmoreland County Air Show, sponsored by Shop 'n Save, the stores offered customers paper "wings" for $1 donation.

Youngwood's customers and employees raised the most of the 100 stores in Western Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Ohio and West Virginia.

Working with the June event at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity was a "joy," said Rich Haeflein, Shop 'n Save spokesman.

He commended the Youngwood community and employees, then presented Jamie Swytalski, assistant office manager at the store, with an autographed photo of the Navy Blue Angels, who flew their F-16 fighter jets at the air show.

"(The staff members) were just so excited to support anything to help military families," Swytalski said. "It was just a great honor for our whole store to do that."

Swytalski said support from the Youngwood VFW Post 211 and branch of the Somerset Trust Company contributed to their donation.

This is the first year of any major partnership for the air show, said Gabe Monzo, executive director of the Westmoreland County Airport Authority.

"We're proud to be a conduit for the Troops First issuance and it's great the airport's able to do that ... we're looking forward to a longstanding relationship with them," he said.

After two banner years hosting the Blue Angels, any announcements about future air shows won't be made until December, Monzo said.

Stacey Federoff is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-6660 or sfederoff@tribweb.com.

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