MCKENZIE RIVER, Ore. (KMTR) -- A day on the river with local fishing guides Saturday, giving back to a group of veterans who’ve turned their lives around from life on the street.
The Emerald Empire Chapter of the Northwest Steelheaders hosted its annual Vet’s Fishing Trip on the McKenzie River on Saturday, July 14th, 2012.
The fishing experts helped lend a hand, teaching veterans how to fish.
All of the vets on the trip have been a part of St. Vincent de Paul’s “Vet Lift” program, which helps provide them with housing and treatment for various problems and addications.
Skip Mahoney, a veteran enrolled in the Vet Lift program, floated the river today with Chris Douglass. Douglass is an avid fisherman who is also a veteran.
Douglass says anything he can do to give back to fellow vets in need is good.
"This is how I cope with things and this is my respite, so if I can share some of those tips and techniques, it's a way to share my passion and how I relax,” says Douglass.
"It's just really nice of them to provide us with what they've done because its all out of wanting to do it, not having to,” says Mahoney.
About 51 veterans and their families are enrolled in Vet Lift. This is the third time the local Northwest Steelheaders chapter has hosted the event.
