VFW raising funds to pave parking lot
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Mahoning Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars is making plans to pave its parking lot.
VFW Post 2076 members have voted to begin fundraising to pave the parking lot at the post home on Maple Avenue.
A donation of $10,000 at the end of last year has been set aside to get things started.
Paving with non-impervious material generally would not be allowed since the property is in a flood zone. However, an exception can be made since there is an existing parking lot on the property. Permission can be granted to pave if the new lot does not cover more area than the old one.
A permit was granted by the borough on Feb. 10.
Post Adjutant Sam Cleveland is confident that the community will step up and help with the $30,000 project.
“We make our building available to the public for several open house programs and luncheons throughout the year, such as at Memorial Day, Flag Day, Veterans Day, and most recently Groundhog Day,” Cleveland said, adding that they also allow the Red Cross to use it for at least six blood mobiles a year at no cost.
Non-profit organizations also rent the building for a donation.
Post Quartermaster Bob Lott added that they’re doing this as much for the rest of the town as for themselves.
“Anybody who uses the building in the future will appreciate being out of the mud,” Lott said. “We’d like to do the paving this spring, and money-wise we’re over one third of the way to seeing it happen.”
Lott said the post currently is selling “Sgt. Phil” shirts and American flags and operating a Henry Golden Boy Rifle Raffle (VFW Tribute Edition).
Donations can be sent to VFW Post 2076, PO Box 33, Punxsy.