Members of the Lewiston branch of
RealtyUSA presented a $395 check Tuesday to Chris Kreiger, president and
co-founder of WNY Heroes Inc.

The Williamsville-based
organization provides direct financial assistance to returning soldiers. This
includes support for rent, food and schooling.

"Myself being a veteran - 12 years
in the Army Reserves - as soon as I heard about this organization, and the
immediate help (it provides), and how many veteran friends that I have myself,
I decided that this was right organization to do this," said RealtyUSA manager
Gina Gigliotti.

The agency raised funds during its
May basket auction. The public could visit the Center Street office and bid on
prizes.

"The community was so involved,"
Gigliotti said. "We couldn't have asked for a better turnout. Next year we hope
it's even bigger and better."

Last year, WNY Heroes gave away
$80,000, all of which was raised through fundraisers and charitable donations.

"I have a lot of friends that were
in the military, and I've seen them struggle. When I heard (WNY Heroes) was
local and (funding) stays here, and you can watch where the money went, I
thought it was awesome," Gigliotti said.

Kreiger said WNY Heroes works with
local businesses to "adopt" struggling military families each Christmas. The
non-for-profit is set to debut Operation Gold Star later this month in Angola.
The camp is for children whose parents died serving this country in Iraq or
Afghanistan.

Gigliotti said her co-workers had
no qualms about donating money to WNY Heroes.

"As soon as I told them about it,
we had a meeting about it. It was instant," she said. "As soon as I said what
it was, and the mission statement, everybody was on board. So it was really
neat."