Peggy McGee
Every year the Green Valley Chapter Military Officers of America Association (MOAA) auxiliary sponsors a special project to help an organization outside of MOAA. In the past they have hosted baby showers for the National Guard and fundraiser luncheons for Fisher house and Tucson Veterans Serving Veterans. This year they decided to try something different, an event opened to the public. As it turned out, 70 percent of the attendees were not affiliated with the MOAA Chapter.
The recipient of their fundraising efforts was Therapeutic Riding of Tucson (TROT) an organization that provides free horse therapy for veterans with both physical and emotional injuries resulting from their military service.
Becky Noel, Volunteer Coordinator for TROT, described the many horse therapy programs that they offer to help others. She said many of the veterans build up their confidence being around a horse and eventually they open up to other people in the program. As a result of that, TROT now sponsors a weekly social period where the veterans and their families can mingle with other veterans as they build up their self- confidence.
Quail Creek residents Betty Atwater and Julie Hazelton were key members of the organizing committee for the event. When people told them that they could not attend the luncheon because of other commitments, they unabashedly asked for donations. That effort netted $380 for TROT. In addition, they held a split-the-pot raffle which raised another $185 for TROT. In the end they were able to present a check for $785 to support TROT’s Heroes on Horses program. For more information on TROT, please visit their website at trotarizona.org.
The organizers send a heartfelt thanks to all who attended or supported their efforts. Visit greenvalleymoaa.org for more information on the local Chapter.