Cranston’s Cork and Bottle gives back to veterans through Operation Stand Down donation

MATCHING DONATIONS: Pictured, from left, are John McDonough IV, director of supportive services for OSDRI and a retired command sergeant major in the Army; Erik Wallin, executive director and general counsel for OSDRI and a former captain in the Air Force; Mike Flaherty, owner of Cork and Bottle Liquor Store; Cranston Mayor Allan Fung; and Dee DeQuattro, director of communications and development for OSDRI. For the past two months, Flaherty has been matching customers donations towards OSDRI. On Wednesday, he presented the organization with a $1,000 check.

(Sun Rise photo by Kelcy Dolan)

Posted Thursday, July 30, 2015 1:29 pm

Kelcy Dolan

It began two months ago, when a customer at Cork and Bottle Liquor Store dropped a single quarter into a small, blue collection dish with “Air Force” emblazoned in white along the side.

Then Mike Flaherty, owner of the liquor store, threw in his own 25 cents. Two months later, after matching donations from his customers, Flaherty presented Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI) with a $1,000 check last Thursday afternoon.

OSDRI is a Johnston-based non-profit providing services for homeless, low-income, and at-risk veterans. The organization helps those who have served in uniform find supportive housing, job training, case management, and assistance for basic human needs such as food and clothing.

Flaherty, a decorated Air Force veteran himself, wanted his customers to know the money they dropped into the donation dish wasn’t just “going into his pocket,” so he vowed to match all the donations that came in.

Initially, customers were leaving change and small dollar bills, but as word got out, people were leaving $20 bills.

“Every customers that comes in here has a high respect for the military,” Flaherty said. “We had veterans who were well off, family and friends of veterans and just people that cared leaving money.”

Representatives from OSDRI and Cranston Mayor Allan Fung visited the liquor store last Thursday for a small check presentation.

Erik Wallin, esquire, a former Air Force captain and executive director of OSDRI, said $1,000 can go a long way toward helping veterans, supplementing initiatives for which state and federal funding does not provide.

Flaherty had been holding the fundraiser unprompted and only told OSDRI a day or two before the check presentation that he would be donating the collected funds.

“When individuals can appreciate our servicemen and women and understand the struggles they face when they return then encourage others to do the same without being asked, it’s a validation of the work we do,” Wallin said. “It’s exciting when people step up.”

Fung praised the efforts of Cork and Bottle, which he called a “thoughtful and wonderful” business. He said it is the community’s duty to serve those who “served our country to protect our liberties.”

“We need to make sure our vets aren’t forgotten, and receive the resources they need when they return,” he said.

Even after the check presentation, Flaherty still had a container full of uncounted donations. He said that he will continue to take customer donations and pass them along to OSDRI.