From helping with energy bills to supplying service dogs, a cash grant from the state lottery aims to help veterans

The funds come from sales of the Illinois State Lottery’s Winter Riches tickets.

Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation in Chillicothe and Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois each received tens of thousands of dollars to support area veterans.

The Central Illinois chapter is the world’s only Goodwill that owns and operates a veterans’ home, the General Wayne A. Downing home in South Peoria, according to CEO Don Johnson.

Goodwill received $49,000 to install solar panels on the roof of the veterans’ home to help cut energy bills.

It’s home to 15 Central Illinois veterans who pay little to nothing for utilities such as heating and cooling. Goodwill also covers TV and internet bills and food.

“Some of them have SSI (supplemental security income) that come in at $350, $450, $650, but we charge very minimal to that. You’re talking 60, 70, 80 bucks, and so to double that because of energy costs, we’re not going to do that,” Johnson said.

Johnson expects to install the solar panels within six to eight months.

On the other hand, Freedom Paws trains service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. It received $100,000 to hire another trainer and buy a transport van.

“[The dogs] interrupt nightmares. A lot of our veterans come in, and they have other issues going on; they shake a lot, so a lot of the time, they’re dropping their keys, they’re dropping their pill bottles, so the dogs can go and retrieve them,” said Freedom Paws Service Dogs Foundation CEO Corey James.

With a three-month waiting list of veterans looking for service dogs, the grant money will help pay for extra classes to train more dogs at once.

“Essentially, we’re hoping to go from two classes a week, basically to four. That’s going to be huge for us because like I said, we’re going to double the amount of dogs that we can actually put with veterans,” said James.

Freedom Paws picks up most of its puppies from out of state. The transport van would provide more room for the furry friends and to haul supplies to social events.

James hopes to see those additions within the next month.

Organizations can apply for the grant year-round, but Winter Riches $2 lottery tickets are only sold between November and February.

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