In The News

Mrs. Stacia McDonough, the widow of decorated and enlisted Vietnam veteran, John E. McDonough, and President of, Independence for Veterans Inc., a registered 501c-3 nonprofit, is  hosting a golf outing fundraiser on Monday, October 18, 2021, 9:30 sharp, at Trump National Golf Club, 900 Lamington Road, Bedminster, New Jersey. Monies raised will go to the  construction of tiny homes which will be given to homeless veterans. 

Stacia McDonough knew little about the Vietnam War and the struggles of its U.S. veterans prior to marrying her husband John, but the experiences he shared prior to his premature passing have led her on a decade-long mission to help all military veterans in her area of New Jersey and beyond.

Starting in June 2019, those efforts became the nonprofit, volunteer organization Independence for Veterans, so named because John's birthday was the Fourth of July.

Independence for Veterans, Inc. is the recipient of a $500 donation from the Valairco Cares program. Kevin McHugh, Owner of Valairco Heating and Cooling, and company's founder Richard Valenti recently presented a check to Stacia McDonough and volunteers from Independence for Veterans at Valairco's office in Manville. Valairco Heating and Cooling started the Valairco Cares program to celebrate their 50 years in business. Because of their joy...

A group of devoted volunteers, working with the local Independence for Veterans nonprofit organization, recently delivered more than $45,000 worth of food along with new winter clothing and other necessities to fill the pantries and closets of homeless veterans in transitional housing at the Lyons Veterans Administration campus in Basking Ridge. From last October into this month, Independence for Veterans...

Stacia McDonough and her nonprofit organization “Independence For Veterans” have kicked off their ninth annual “They Kept Us Safe, Let’s Keep Them Warm” new winter clothing drive to benefit the formerly homeless and disabled veterans who currently reside at the “Hope For Veterans” transitional housing facility on the VA campus in
Lyons, Somerset County, and Vet Haven North in Glen Gardner, Hunterdon County.

Bedminster resident Stacia McDonough, the widow of a decorated U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran, Sgt. John E. McDonough, has launched “Independence for Veterans, Inc.” a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The organization is aptly named, as Sgt. McDonough’s birth date was July 4.

McDonough has volunteered with New Jersey’s homeless veterans for the past 14 years, and to honor her late husband...

Bedminster resident Stacia McDonough, the widow of a decorated U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran, Sergeant John E. McDonough, has launched “Independence for Veterans, Inc.” a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The organization is aptly named, as McDonough’s husband’s birth date is July 4, Independence Day. McDonough has volunteered with New Jersey’s homeless veterans for the past 14 years, and to honor her late husband, single-handedly founded an annual ...

Stacia McDonough, the widow of Vietnam War veteran Sgt. John E. McDonough, has launched, “Independence for Veterans, Inc.,” a registered 501c-3 nonprofit. A resident of Bedminster Terrace, McDonough has been volunteering with New Jersey’s homeless veterans for the past 14 years. To honor her late husband, she founded an annual Christmas drive, “They Kept Us Safe, Let’s Keep Them Warm,” a collection of new winter clothing, toiletries and...

Part of Stacia McDonough lives in a fantasy world of princesses and fairy tales. She designs and imports Russian porcelain dolls, with ivory skin and lush costumes of silk, velvet and fur. For each doll, she writes a story based on Russian lore and literature.  Another part of Stacia McDonough lives in the real-life world of broken people and poverty. She dresses them in winter necessities: thick socks and long underwear, warm sweaters and scarfs, cozy pajamas and robes.

The campaign "They Kept Us Safe, Let's Keep Them Warm" is in loving memory of late husband, John McDonough, a Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Bedminster veteran's widow, Stacia McDonough, is hosting her sixth annual, "They Kept Us Safe, Let's Keep Them Warm," new winter clothing drive to benefit the formerly homeless and disabled veterans currently residing at the "Hope For Veterans" transitional housing facility on the VA campus in Lyons.

McDonough was inspired...

For the fifth year in a row, Bedminster resident Stacia McDonough spearheaded the "They Kept Us Safe, Let's Keep Them Warm" collection that gathered new clothing, toiletries and additional necessities for "our heroes in need" living at housing at the Veterans Administration facility in Lyons.

Even after McDonough and other volunteers delivered the donated items a few days before Christmas to men and a few women veterans at the VA off Valley Road...

Bedminster resident Stacia McDonough's growing annual "They Kept Us Safe, Let's Keep Them Warm" drive ,to collect new clothing for the formerly homeless veterans housed at Community Hope/Hope for Veterans housing in Lyons, is becoming a year-round effort.

A large amount of donations of clothing and toiletries was presented earlier this spring, when Zimmer Biomet of Parsippany coordinated the company's second annual drive to collect $18,000...