Why We Give: Hometown Hero Outdoors

#whywegive initiative. KSTP supports a variety of charities throughout the year by running Public Service Announcements and airing the amazing stories demonstrating the impact that these organizations have in our community.

The Details

A North Dakota buffalo hunt gave a veteran a chance to relax, connect with others and reach a life-changing moment — a moment organized by Hometown Hero Outdoors. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS anchor Chris Egert followed Larry Verraneault on a trip to Blackleg Ranch to see it firsthand.

“I joined the Marine Corps in 1965, and I served for six years with the Marine Corps. And after the Marine Corps, I joined the Air Force, and I did 17-and-a-half years with the Air Force,” Verraneault said.

“They feel more relaxed; their stress level has reduced. Their anxiety is reduced,” Phil Ewert, the vice president of Hometown Hero Outdoors, said.

Ewert noted that veterans on a recent trip traded phone numbers and email addresses and stayed in touch by text.

“Yeah, last night I had a hard time getting to sleep,” Verraneault said the day of the hunt.

He later got what he came for on the North Dakota adventure.

“Amazing! Simply amazing!” Verraneault shouted as it unfolded. “Unbelievable!”

It was a life-changing moment made possible by Hometown Hero Outdoors.

That’s why we give. What’s your cause?