TOLEDO, Ohio — The Toledo Buffalo Soldiers along with the Lucas County Veterans Service Commission and the Ohio National Guard teamed up with volunteers this Veterans Day for Operation Shut-In.
The President of the Toledo Buffalo Soldiers, Earl Mack, got the idea a few years ago when a veteran friend of his wasn't well enough to meet him out for his free meal.
"And a light bulb turned on in our heads like 'bingo!' We have shut in veterans and nobody gets out to them," Mack said.
It's the fourth year for the operation. More than 200 meals were delivered to veterans who simply couldn't get out, including Navy veteran Raymond Klijewski and Army veteran Alberto Torres Quintanilla.
"I think it's great. One gentleman there--Buffalo Soldiers, I seen him all the time. Not only here, but in the parades," Quintanilla said.
Twenty local restaurants donated the meals for the veterans and volunteers helped the Buffalo Soldiers deliver them, including Toledo Municipal Court Judge Josh Lanzinger, who is an Army veteran himself.
"I thought it would be a good opportunity to come out and help and allow some of our fellow veterans to get a good meal from some of our local restaurants," Lanzinger said.
It was also a chance to have a conversation and visit with vets who may not get a lot of interaction. The benefits of this operation are felt on both the giving and receiving ends.
"It's very heart-touching to hear some of these stories from some of the veterans," Mack said.
If you’d like to get involved with Operation Shut-In, visit Toledobuffalosoldiers.org for more information.
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