CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The members of VFW Post 3837 in Calallen are on a mission to keep its doors open.
If this second home to local veterans doesn’t find a way to bring in a steady revenue soon, it will become a casualty of a different kind.
Many businesses in the Coastal Bend are feeling the impact of COVID-19, including non-profits like the Veterans of Foreign Wars or VFW.
“It is very tough because financially, we are down to the bottom of our barrel. I mean, we need our electricity on and our water. Once those go then there goes the VFW,” said VFW Post 3837 Post Commander Tomas Trevino.
Local VFW Posts, including Post 3837, are closed because the 51 percent alcohol sale rule that applies to bars, also applies to them. The state has shut down bars and establishments that have 51 percent or more of their sales from alcohol.
“We were closed March-June then we re-opened it in June, and then we were shut down July and August so a lot of planning and putting bills off, calling people and seeing if we can get extensions. Yeah, it has been difficult,” said VFW Post 3837 Quartermaster Eric Flurry.
The VFW Post 3837 is close to closing its doors for good if help doesn’t come fast. They have lost more than $15,000 since March.
“At this minute, we are working on possible fundraisers for the future. Right now, we do have a Go Fund Me account set up for people to donate cash, and maybe help us out of this jam we are in and keep our building open,” said VFW Post 3837 Post Commander Tomas Trevino.
Quartermaster Eric Flurry tells KRIS 6 News that VFW Post 3837 is more than just a tavern to so many veterans in the community. It is a second home, and to many, it is their second family.
For more information on helping VFW Post 3837 visit:https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-the-vfw-post-3837?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf%20share-flow-1&fbclid=IwAR0gM-jon3lWvVBzzkTjrmbgKGkaT0XhpJOTlH1U9OhJms4ifHDnuZxgtvw