Jeffrey Cole, post commander of Desert Hot Springs VFW Post 1534, is seeking donations to help repair the building, which has been vandalized multiple times over the past three months.
Cole alleges that a former member who is no longer associated with Post 1534 is responsible for draining the building’s AC units of their freon, breaking the outdoor lighting and cutting their van’s gas line; a recently created GoFundMe page page said.
“We are a non-profit organization which struggles in the summer months because of Season,” Cole said in the GoFundMe post. “We are asking for donations to assist with these repairs as well as getting better outdoor security cameras to better cover all sides of our building. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.”
The GoFundMe goal is set at $2,500.
Cole recently spoke to KESQ and elaborated on the vandalism. He explained that when they paid to have the freon refilled on one of the AC units, it was drained again within the next 24 hours. He also noted that when the gas line of their van—a donated vehicle used to escort veterans to events—was cut, they did not realize it until attempting to refuel at a gas station and saw the gas pouring out.
“It won't even go into the gas tank,” Cole told KESQ.
Finally, in a recent act of contempt not included in the GoFundMe post, human feces were left near the front door of the VFW; Cole said. He has since filed two police reports with the sheriff's department. As a result, additional patrols have been added and people of interest have been contacted.
Anyone interested in donating can do so on the GoFundMe page.