[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 190 (Wednesday, December 7, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1227-E1228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS AND SUCCESSES OF WNY HEROES

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2022

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to honor 
an organization, WNY Heroes, whose programs continue to be a lifeline 
for our local military veterans. Founded in 2007, its mission of 
preventing homelessness quickly expanded to a wholesale outreach 
organization that has aided countless veterans. They continue to work 
tirelessly in support of veterans, and this week we celebrate the grand 
opening of their new location in downtown Buffalo.
  At the outset, WNY Heroes was designed to assist Iraq and Afghanistan 
veterans, but the need grew as veterans of all eras came in search of 
help. They soon broadened their reach to all that served our nation. 
WNY Heroes has become an instrumental voice in our community. and their 
effort toward veterans and their families by providing immediate 
financial assistance is nothing short of remarkable. More than ever, 
the demand for their services is growing.
  Their program, ``Heroes' Bridge,'' offers veterans with financial 
assistance. Through medical referral, ``Pawsitive for Heroes'' has paid 
for over 140 veterans to be paired with a trained service dog. 
``Operation Backpack'' raises money every year to buy new school 
supplies for the children of veterans. 1,200 veterans from four local 
counties are sufficiently fed because of their program, ``Feed a 
Veteran.'' They connect veterans with appropriate resources and 
services through the Veterans Health Administration every day.
  WNY Heroes fills a void in the treatment of our veterans--one that 
should not exist. Sacrifice abroad is often met with hardship at home. 
Founder, Chris Kreiger, and the WNY Heroes team knows this firsthand, 
so they act to fix it. This organization's success serves as a much-
needed inspiration, and each of the aforementioned programs is critical 
in the lives of our local heroes. Their new location in Buffalo should 
help them to reach more veterans in a more effective manner. On behalf 
of everyone in the Western New York community, I would like to thank 
and congratulate WNY Heroes for the services they have provided to our 
bravest men and women.

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