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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 36 Number 9
May 2009
Work Vessels for Vets expands aid; looks for donations
NOANK, CT – Work Vessels for Vets (WVFV), which last year gave a lobster boat to an Iraq war veteran, recently expanded its mission to help returning soldiers restart their work lives with donations of laptop computers.
A presentation of computers to 11 vets was held in late March at the Connecticut Department of Labor.
“We knew that the first boat was just the start,” said organization founder John Niekrash. “We realized that people from all walks of life wanted to be a part of this and provide other ‘vessels’ or methods of assistance for returning veterans.”
The computers were donated by Ted Knapp, president of Green Technology Recycling of Essington, PA, which specializes in buying and refurbishing computers, and Kimberly Crew of Computer Systems and Solutions of Philadelphia. Novartis Pharmaceuticals donated mice and headphones to create a complete package.
The recipients, all from Connecticut, wrote letters outlining their needs and plans for the computers. The Connecticut Department of Labor’s Office of Veterans’ Workforce Development assisted in the search for suitable candidates.
Most of the requests came from vets who had served on multiple deployments, who were injured and prevented from returning to their preservice careers. Many were enrolling in college.
Growing effort
Niekrash, a lifelong lobsterman, got WVFV going last year when, while going forward with plans to build a larger boat, decided he wanted to give his old vessel to help a returning soldier.
A story in Commercial Fisheries News about his desire to donate his boat was picked up by other media outlets, and Niekrash soon heard from Marine Reservist Richard Giguere of Rhode Island, who had recently returned from two tours of duty in Iraq.
On April 4, 2008, Niekrash turned over the keys to Giguere, who today fishes in Narragansett Bay and is a member of WVFV’s board of directors.
Noank Shipyard Inc. and Zack Schmidt of Iowa’s 6K Designs, which does web site development and design, have been strong WVFV supporters from the start.
Others who have stepped up to expand WVFV include: Tina Kelsey of Communications Etc., a Mystic-based marketing company; the Connecticut Marine Trades Association; and Eric Janney of Block, Janney, & Pascal LLC, who provides legal services.
The group now even has a celebrity “front man” in Dave Mason, a founder of the rock band “Traffic” and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, who has been promoting Work Vessels for Vets at his shows.
WVFV is currently active on several fronts. In addition to expanding its computer donation network to other states, it is taking steps to get charter and workboats to vets in Michigan and Wyoming and is hoping to hear from commercial fishermen interested in donating vessels to vets who want to be commercial fishermen.
“We wish we could help each person we receive a request from so we’re cultivating partners from other industries,” Niekrash said. “We’ve had requests for assistance in other disciplines such as construction and automotive. As we expand, we also will continue to look to our roots as we have received numerous requests for commercial watercraft.”
For more information, visit WVFV’s web site at <www.workvesselsforvets.org>. /cfn/
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