Horseshoes raise money for families of troops

Lafayette - Tossing horseshoes is not as easy as it looks, but those entered in the Topher Horseshoe Tournament for Unmet Needs this weekend in Lafayette were more interested in helping the cause than getting a perfect score. "We were watching TV one night and we saw a program on the hardships, financial and otherwise, that the families of reservists have to face," said Catherine Topher, a former Marine reservist. "So we thought that we would turn what is usually just a fun horseshoe tournament into a fundraiser, Unmet Needs is a not-for-profit organization administered by the VFW Foundation and supported by Vermont American Power Tool Accessories. The company donates a part of the profit from each sale it makes to provide crucial assistance to families left behind when a provider is deployed and the family finds itself in unexpected financial hardship. Funds are available to all service branches as well as to reserves and National Guard.  Funds are offered in the form of grants, not loans, so recipients don't need to repay them.  As they are typically less than $1,500, there is little chance that they will affect the recipient's taxes, Topher said. "Since 9-11 I was mobilized twice and I have seen a lot of reservists undergo financial hardship," she continued. "So my husband Mike, who has prior Army service, and I thought this would be a great way to raise some money for Unmet Needs." Topher expected to raise more than $1,000 with the horseshoe tournament. For more information go to: www.unmetneeds.com.