By Nancy L. Mitchell
Contributing Writer
Lynn Fox was the guest speaker at the Oct. 17 meeting of the Betsy Baldwin Chapter, NSDAR. Fox is the community outreach director at Clear Path for Veterans. As the name implies, the organization serves veterans, but also goes one step further to serve the families of veterans as well.
Clear Path got its beginnings in 2010 when Steve Kinne, Melissa Spicer and Melinda Sorrentino worked together on a project focused on the needs of veterans. Kinne, a veteran with 23 years of military service, wanted to coordinate a program where military members and veterans with service connected disabilities would train dogs, not as family pets, but as their own service dogs. This became Dogs2Vets.
Spicer and Sorrentino, who are sisters, played a significant role in locating the property that is now home to the foundation. This venture led to the founding of “Clear Path for Veterans” and the location, which spans both Madison and Onondaga counties. The organization has been such a success that it serves as many as 23 counties.
Clear Path, as it is often referred to, has five core values: community, leadership, empowerment, accountability and respect. While many veteran organizations work primarily with veterans, Clear Path for Veterans works with veterans and their families. In addition to the Dogs2Vets programs, other activities include a writing program, an employment program, wellness programs and more. For additional information and a calendar of upcoming events, visit clearpath4vets.com.
District V Roundtable
Earlier in the month, members of several DAR chapters met for the District V Roundtable. Two afghans and a check for $152 were donated to the Syracuse VA Medical Center by the chapters. The money is used by the Recreation Therapy Department at the Center to buy supplies.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the Betsy Baldwin Chapter, NSDAR will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at the First United Methodist Church in Baldwinsville. Members are asked to bring items for the Christmas Bureau and gifts for veterans. Anyone interested in joining the DAR can visit the chapter website at darbetsybaldwin.weebly.com/ or contact Registrar Kathy Clasper at 452-0448.
