By Mike McCombs
The Island News
The Fisher House Foundation recently honored regular The Island News contributor Larry Dandridge an award for his generosity and extraordinary support of military and veterans’ families and Fisher House Charleston.
The award was presented by the Fisher House Charleston Manager Eric Zielinski at the Fisher House Charleston.
Dandridge wrote the popular (more than 250 five-star reviews) and award-winning Blades of Thunder (Book One) to help raise money to buy the land that Fisher House Charleston is built on. To date, his book sales/signings and speeches have raised more than $70,000 for Fisher House Charleston.
Dandridge has written more than 150 articles on veterans’ benefits, leadership, what citizens should know about police officers use of force authority, end of life planning, and hospice. He has also written articles on those subjects, aeronautics, logistics and more for more than 20 magazines and newspapers in the U.S., Germany, and England. His articles regularly appear in web directory All About Seniors.
Dandridge is available as a speaker; he can be reached at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164. He does not charge when speaking to patriotic organizations but instead asks they consider a small donation to Fisher House Charleston.
Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
About Fisher House Charleston
Contact your VA Social Worker if you need a referral to Fisher House Charleston.
Friends of Fisher House Charleston
When the Fisher House is full, the wonderful local 501c3 nonprofit Friends of Fisher House Charleston Inc. provides free hotel nights and convenient transportation services making sure no veteran’s family goes unaccommodated.
The Fisher House Charleston has been full for the past four months and the demand for free lodging has resulted in the need for a second Fisher House in Charleston.
How to donate to Fisher House Charleston
Items like individually packaged food items/snacks and common household items such as toilet paper and cleaning supplies) are appreciated. Monetary: Donations can be made online at https://bit.ly/3UwnEXQ or at https://bit.ly/48c3BRE. Checks can be made payable to Charleston Fisher House or Friends of Fisher House Charleston. Dandridge suggests you donate through the Friends of Fisher House Charleston, Inc. because the money can be used faster through this avenue and in some cases for families that government-appropriated funding does not cover.
How to volunteer at Fisher House Charleston
Meal Train: The FHC is always looking for volunteers to cook at the Fisher House. Register online at https://mealtrain.com/986m8v. If you have any questions, contact the Fisher House Managers at Erik.Zielinski@va.gov and Charity.Anderson@va.gov, or call 843-805-8200.
