At a time when so many people are struggling due to COVID-19 and the repercussions from ensuing shutdowns as the virus spread, now is a difficult time to ask people to give.

For many people, the present moment is likely a challenging one for seeking donations. However, there are important community initiatives and institutions that still need funding to deliver vital services.

So it was wonderful to see the Butler P.M. Rotary hold an event this past weekend to benefit Robin’s Home in Butler — which provides transitional housing for women veterans and their children. On Saturday, the Rotary held a clay shoot at Castlewood Rod and Gun Club in Ellwood City.

The cost of participation in the event was $125 per shooter, and funds raised will go toward operating costs — including utilities — at Robin’s Home.

Robin’s Home provides a vital service to the community. Butler veteran Mary Chitwood founded the home after the property where it’s located had been vacant and in disrepair for decades, often attracting squatters. The home was named after Robin Arnold, a veteran who died in 2017.

Providing services for women veterans is especially important considering recent studies and statistics.

A 2017 survey by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America found that only 27 percent of women in the military believe the public treats women veterans with respect.

A study that same year by the Department of Veterans Affairs and another in 2019 conducted by a Penn State graduate student and U.S. Air Force veteran found that women veterans are the fastest growing demographic among the U.S. homeless population.

The Veterans Affairs study found that many homeless women veterans don’t seek assistance because they were victims of sexual trauma while in the military and, therefore, don’t identify themselves as veterans or turn to organizations such as the VA for help. “Women who served and who are having trouble, there’s not the same help available to them as men have,” Chitwood said.

Robin’s Home provides a temporary place for women veterans to stay if they are homeless or working low-income jobs. We are thankful for its service to the community.

And the Butler P.M. Rotary should be commended for recognizing the home’s importance and holding an event to raise money for it at a time when seeking donations is a challenge.

— NCD