Operation Gift Cards receives $20,000 donation

 

Veteran Angel Cadena, left, accepts a $20,000 donation on behalf of Operation Gift Cards and the Disabled American Veterans from Steve Lobdell, center, and Steve Curry of Fairfield Firefighters Local 1426. / Contributed photo

Operation Gift Cards for wounded troops, a program co-sponsored by 62 Connecticut organizations, has received a $20,000 donation. 

Angel Cadena, a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan-two tours) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (one tour) and a member of AMVETS (American Veterans) Post 43 accepted the $20,000 donation July 10 from the Fairfield Firefighters Local 1426.

The check was presented by Steve Lobdell and Steve Curry. The Fairfield firefighters raised the money during the annual Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon and 5K hosted by the Fairfield firefighters' local in June.

Lobdell, creator and President of the fairfieldhalf.org, and Steve Curry, Assistant Chief of the Fairfield Fire Department and an Air Force veteran, have both been among the 199 representatives (from 64 organizations - 62 from Connecticut) who have visited the wounded troops for Operation Gift Cards. 

The AMVETS and the Fairfield Firefighters Local 1426 have been the largest two supporters of Operation Gift Cards.

This information was provided by Al Meadows of Shelton.