A $75,000 check for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Unmet Needs program was presented to the VFW district six officers by TOMS King Burger King during a check presentation at the Salem Burger King Tuesday morning. From left, Tom’s King Regional Vice President Rich Nottingham, Senior District Manager Stefanie Seither, VFW District Six Chief of Staff Bill Syppko, VFW District Six Senior Vice Commander Stephen Russel, former VFW State Commander Terry Roar, VFW District Six and Post 892 commander Douglas Brannon, VFW Auxiliary District Six President Billie Melott, Restaurant General Manager Cheyenne Harrison, area managers Jessica Rivera and Jessica Baughman, and TOMS King COO Erin Hasselgren. (Salem News photo by Morgan Ahart)

SALEM — A $75,000 check for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Unmet Needs program was presented to the VFW District Six officers at the Salem Burger King.

“I just want to say, on behalf of myself, my post, my regional commander and all our members, that this partnership is and has been an honor and a privilege,” said VFW District Six and Post 892 Commander Douglas Brannon.

The $75,000 represents the most recent donation from of an annual partnership between the VFW and TOMS King Burger King, which began in 2017, and has raised nearly $400,000 since, with 30% of all annual fundraising coming from the Salem area.

TOMS King COO Erin Hasselgren said that the check presentation was held at the Salem location as the year prior. The restaurant was the number one fund raiser for the partnership in the entirety of the company.

The donated funds are used for the VFW Unmet Needs program which provides grants of up to $1,500 for those in active-duty service experiencing financial hardship as a result of a current deployment, military pay error or from being discharged for medical reasons; and veterans discharged before Sept. 11, 2001 who are experiencing financial hardship as a direct result of military service-connected injuries or illnesses, or who are on a fixed income including Veteran’s Administration compensation for service-connected injuries or illnesses and facing an unexpected financial hardship.

“If a veteran were unable to pay their rent or medical bills, this program allows the VFW to provide them with financial assistance,” said Brannon.