PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The New Moon Lodge's ballroom will once again be filled with resources to support veterans during its second annual resource fair and dinner event. 

 

Last year more than 200 area veterans and their families attended and left with full bellies, a handful of helpful resources, new connections with fellow veterans, and a reinforced sense of community support. 

 

"This whole thing is to bring a better quality of life to our brothers and sisters in the veterans community," said Kyle Kuffel, veteran officer for Masonic District 31 of Massachusetts. 

 

This year, attendees can enjoy a free barbecue meal provided by Shire Tavern while hearing from local and national veterans services organizations including Hope for the Warriors, Berkshire Veterans Outreach Center, American Veterans Archeological Recovery, MassHire, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and many more.

 

The event is Saturday, Nov. 8; those attending the dinner are asked to RSVP by Nov. 1 using the QR code to the right, by going here or emailing newmoontow@gmail.com.

 

It is easy for veterans to get discouraged and there can be a disconnect between them and the civilian population, Kuffel said. 

 

Bringing together veterans and community resources helps bridge this gap, demonstrating that veterans are loved and appreciated, he said.

 

The space is a judgement free space open to all veterans, honorably or dishonorably charged, Lodge Master Bernard Tremblay said.

 

"If you raise your right hand to swear the oath of allegiance to the Constitution that's good enough for us," Kuffel said. 

 

Those who have been dishonorably discharged often don't think they deserve help, but they do, Kuffel said. 

 

We don't know what set the veterans down the path leading to their discharge and the event is a judgement free zone, Tremblay added. 

 

"There's no division here. Everybody was welcome," he said. 

 

Following last year's event, Kuffel heard from many individuals expressing their enthusiasm with how well it went, highlighting the laughter and happiness that filled the room. 

 

However, for one veteran, the event was more than that; it was their turning point from rock bottom, Kuffel said. 

 

The morning of last year's resource fair Kuffel received a call from a veteran who was in a really bad place and was struggling with substance abuse. The veteran attended the resource fair, connected with a substance abuse counselor there, and has since gotten clean, Kuffel said. 

 

The substance abuse counselor and many other organizations, such as Soldier On will be on site to connect veterans to resources, he said. 

 

"There are certainly direct impacts that are changing people's lives," Kuffel said. 

 

This account greatly moved Tremblay. You never really know how many people your actions help, he said, and if the event helps only one person, it is a success. 

 

The New Moon Lodge is trying to make the veterans resource fair and dinner its signature event, he said. 

 

"We wanted it to become something that veterans and their friends and families can look forward to every year, the more it catches on, the more traction we'll have with people from outside looking to help us," Tremblay said. 

 

Last year, the event was purely a member-based grassroots initiative, relying heavily lodge resources to cover costs, he said. 

 

This year, organizers set a minimum fundraising goal of $3,500 to cover essential expenses, but estimate that $5,000 would allow them to break even comfortably, he said. 

 

In the future, as fundraising gets better and if there are funds left over, there are hopes they can implement other incentives to help the community aside from the resource fair, Tremblay said. 

 

The historic building was built in 1912 and the ballroom was built for community activity, 

 

"When you go into that room, and you see that room filled with that many people, really, that really warms my heart," Tremblay said. 

 

"It's something that we did as Masons together and brought all that together and to have for somebody like me and Kyle, rally together 50 volunteers to help out 200 people, I mean I'm looking forward to seeing all that again."