In The News

To celebrate Veterans Day, Mrs. Stacia McDonough, and her 501c-3 nonprofit, “Independence For Veterans,” has kicked off their 10th annual Christmas, “They Kept Us Safe, Let's Keep Them Warm,” ...

Pictured: Board Member Traci M. Otalora receiving gifts from Grace Chapel Bedminster

“Unlike other charities, we are giving the home to the veteran. There is no mortgage, no rent, and the gifted home will be purchased in the veteran’s name, not ours. This is a straightforward deal. There are no strings attached. The veteran will only be responsible for his utilities,” McDonough said.

The Bernardsville News: November 14, 2021          Tap Into Bernardsville:  November 9, 2021CentralJersey.com: November 4, 2021
To celebrate Veterans Day 2021, Stacia McDonough and her nonprofit organization, Independence For Veterans, has kicked off its 10th annual “They Kept Us Safe...

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...