Lockport, NY – Local not for profit Kids Breaking Free Foundation, Inc. (Kids BFF) is a community enrichment program supportive of civilian and military at-risk youth and families. Kids BFF Founder Jennifer D’Andrea-Terreri says “It was through my work with children and families in Niagara County that I started to recognize which resources were severely lacking; Veteran housing and services is a big one. So, we decided to do something about it.”

Kids BFF and Orleans/Niagara BOCES co-created the Fundraiser for Disabled & Homeless Veterans of Niagara County. The fundraising goals are to provide Niagara County with it’s first veteran’s-only Permanent Supportive Living facility and a passenger van to transport Veterans to the VA Hospital from the new facility once it’s in operation.

The Veteran’s fundraiser event is not until Saturday July 6th but Mercedes-Benz of Buffalo has already offered to assist with the transportation needs by providing the use of a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van. The Sprinter seats up to 12 adults and with an interior roof height of up to 6’4” the veterans are free to stand up, sit down and stretch out. The extended model has a wheel base of 170” which provides an extra cargo area that can be easily converted so that it is wheelchair accessible.

“The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Passenger Van is the perfect option for transporting our Veterans comfortably and as often as needed from our soon-to-open facility”. D’Andrea-Terreri continues, “Rich Perry, Sprinter Brand Manager and everyone else at Mercedes-Benz of Buffalo have been such a wonderful support of our cause. They’re also going to let us give our community a sneak-peak during the upcoming week of patriotic festivities! This is exciting because everyone will be able to see the Sprinter and not just hear about it.”

The Mercedes Benz Sprinter will be on display during the Lockport Independence Day Parade on Wednesday July 3rd at 6:00 pm. Everyone will also have the opportunity to see the Sprinter Passenger Van inside and out at the Fundraiser event on Saturday July 6th from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Elks Lodge 6791 N. Canal Road, Lockport.

The event consists of food, a car show, bounce houses, activities for the kids, give-aways, music, raffles, and more. Approximately 75 Veterans will be transported to the event from surrounding areas and various Veterans’ service agencies will also be on-site to provide information and immediate linkage to services.

For more information on the Fundraiser For Disabled & Homeless Veterans of Niagara County, how to donate and ways to get involved, please visit http://www.HomelessVeteransWNY.com.