Veterans, particularly those involved in organizations like the American Legion, are used to stepping forward in times of crisis. With the coronavirus pandemic guidance recommending many members stay home—something especially difficult for someone with a military disposition—local veterans found a way to push ahead with community assistance.

Fred Brisbois, the finance officer of American Legion Post 48, said he was feeling frustrated by the circumstances early on during the shutdown. Like many other members of the post, Brisbois is at higher risk for the virus because of his age, and even though some veterans volunteer to drive for Meals on Wheels or perform other lower-risk volunteer work, many were looking for other ways to help.

“I couldn’t think of anything the legion could do to support the community,” Brisbois said. “In the end, it was just, ‘Well, we can always write out a check.’”

Christened the “Pay Forward” fund, Brisbois reached out to members of Post 48 specifically asking them to donate portions of their government stimulus checks—the $1,200 payments sent out to individuals by the federal government over the last couple months.

So far, Post 48 has raised almost $4,500 through the fund, and plans to donate it to Guilford organizations on the front lines of pandemic fight, according to Brisbois.

“The [veterans] I talked to were certainly...relieved to be given an opportunity to help,” Brisbois said.

Initially, the plan was to identify veterans who were struggling during this time, according to Brisbois. But after inquiries were made through Guilford Social Services and through Post 48 itself, Brisbois said they couldn’t identify veterans who were in acute need of financial assistance.

That led to the plan to donate to organizations like the Guilford Food Bank, the Guilford Foundation, and Guilford Interfaith Volunteers, all groups that Brisbois said are doing the kind of selfless work that American Legion hopes to promote in their communities.

Though many veterans hoped to see their donations go to other veterans—and Post 48 has put aside about $500 of the fund in case that need appears—Brisbois said the response was “overwhelmingly positive,” with most of Post 48’s active members donating at least a portion of their stimulus check.

The plan, according to Brisbois, is to “keep it going” with the fund, as far as momentum for the donations. Specifically, the portion of the fund intended for veterans in financial distress is meant to continue in perpetuity, supported by any Post 48 member or member of the general public who is able to contribute to it.

“Your thought process is just, ‘What else can we do?’” Brisbois said. “Keep the fund open. It’s not like we have bills to pay every month as a post.”

Anyone interested in contributing to the “Pay Forward” fund can email fbrisbois@comcast.net, or send by mail to Fred Brisbois at 223 Flat Meadow Road, Guilford, CT 06437.