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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Motorcycle clubs donate money to provide garage for Anderson veterans home

Off the Wire
MCs in the News

ANDERSON — Five motorcycle clubs from Anderson County and beyond joined the veterans, staff and volunteers at the Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home on Saturday in Anderson to cut the ribbon on a new garage that will house the home’s touring bus.

The garage, named the Silver Center, was built in honor of Charles Silver, a resident at the home who recently passed away, said Risa White, who works at the home.

Silver’s wife, Nina Silver, cut the red, white and blue ribbon, White said, at the event Saturday. The gathering drew at least 100 people to the home, which is on Belton Highway.

The garage was the result of the work the Teufelshunde Marine Corps, Hardwood Cruisers, Hardwood Cruisers-Anderson, Hard Knox and Confederates motorcycle clubs, White said.

“The clubs presented a check Saturday for $2,000 to go to the garage,” she said. “It was the motorcycle clubs who raised money to buy the bus to begin with, so they wanted to help us build a suitable shelter for it.”

White said the bus is used to take veterans on outings.

The motorcycle clubs have become an integral part of the veteran home’s volunteer activities in recent years, she said.

“Their involvement with the You are Not Forgotten motorcycle ride is just one of many ways the motorcycle clubs help us,” White said. “Any time a representative of one of these clubs calls us, they are wanting to do something for these veterans.”

White said many of the club members are also veterans whose only motive in helping is to honor those who have served in the armed forces.

“They respect what we do here at the home, and what the veterans have done for all of us,” she said.

Another part of the event Saturday was the presentation of a plaque to Kit Sanders in honor of the work he has done in the last three years for veterans, including the You and Not Forgotten ride.

After 11 years as the volunteer coordinator at the home, White said it is hard for her to imagine doing anything else.

“They touch your heart every single day,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how I feel when I come to work — once I get here, it isn’t too long before I have a smile on my face.”

She said the home is always in need of more volunteers willing to spend time with any one of the home’s 222 residents.

“We have a lot of veterans who enjoy reading but can’t read anymore because their eyes are weak,” White said. “Others just enjoy having someone to talk to. Anyone who would like to spend time reading to a veteran, or just visiting with one, is welcome.”

She said to volunteer, call (864) 261-6734 ext. 369 and ask for her.

original article