Food Truck, Rock Fest raises awareness of women veterans
Rock bands, food trucks, slushies and cornhole provided the fun for an event Saturday, June 3, in Butler that brought awareness to women veterans in advance of Women Veterans Day.
The first Food Truck and Rock Fest held in a city parking lot on Main Street was a fundraiser for Robin’s Home, a Butler nonprofit organization that provides supportive housing to women veterans and their children.
“We wanted to kick off June with a celebration to bring the community together,” said Stephanie Shaffer, president of Robin’s Home’s board of directors. “The amount of support from the city, vendors and the community has been overwhelming.”
Robin’s Home and a few residents got together and decided to put on an event to honor Women Veterans Day, which is June 12.
“When we realized that there were no other women veterans events, we were so excited to have this event,” said Ev Kelly Searle, whose husband Justin, a veteran, served as emcee. Her son, Dylan, also is a veteran.
She said she hopes the event becomes an annual celebration of women who served the country in the military.
Businesses in the county donated gifts for a raffle that benefited Robin’s Home, Searle said. Proceeds from a 50/50 raffle for at least $500 and 10% of sales made by vendors also benefited the home.
Two people who support the home were recognized with awards. Bill Kennihan, of Kennihan Plumbing & Heating in Valencia, received an award as gratitude for providing free heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing work at the home. Cheryl Warner, the home’s service coordinator, received an outstanding service award.
“It’s nice to have an event to bring awareness to Women Veterans Day,” said Mary Chitwood, Robin’s Home founder.
She said the county needs more facilities that focus on women veterans.
The home, which has been open four years, has six bedrooms for women veterans and their children, and usually is filled to 97% of its capacity.
An issue with Robin’s Home is its three-story layout. Chitwood said many older female veterans have mobility issues that prevent them from reaching the home’s second and third floors.
She said a garage has been converted into three meeting rooms where veterans can meet with their caseworkers.
“That’s the last space,” Chitwood said. “We’ve maximized the house as much as we can.”
In August, Robin’s Home will launch its women veterans peer support program, she said.
Two female staff members who recently completed a state peer support training program will meet with women veterans wherever they want to provide support, Chitwood said.
The program is connected to VA Butler Healthcare and is available to veterans in the five counties served by the facility — Butler, Armstrong, Clarion, Lawrence and Mercer, she said.
But Saturday’s event was about fun, and Breyanna Rundell of Butler brought her daughters Nyra, 7, and Josie, 3, to enjoy the activities, including cornhole.
Army veteran Thomas Slater of Summit Township stopped by after taking his grandson to the Butler Area Public Library to return a book.
“There’s a lot of women veterans,” said Slater, who served in the Airborne Division.
Among the vendors was Mindi D’Antoni, of Butler, who brought shirts and other gifts she sells through her online store, Klassy Kreations.
D’Antoni said her parents are members of the Legion Riders organization, and she was asked to attend by a Robin’s Home staff member. She said she made some sales and supports the home.
“It’s an awesome program,” she said.
