Combat Veterans Helping Veterans: How Three Volunteers Raised over $10,000 in One Weekend!

The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Finger Lakes Chapter (NY 19-10) is an association of combat veterans dedicated to serving veterans and veteran families in our local communities. While motorcycles provide a common bond among our members, our true mission is simple: when a veteran needs help, we show up.

To support that mission, we launched a custom premium flannel fundraiser using Zeffy's Event Form, online ordering tools, Point of Sale system, Tap to Pay functionality, and social media integrations.

What began as a simple apparel fundraiser quickly grew into something much larger.

Using Zeffy's pre-order system, online checkout links, QR codes, and in-person Tap to Pay options, supporters were able to purchase however they felt most comfortable. Whether ordering from social media, sharing links with friends and family, or purchasing directly at our sales table, Zeffy made the entire process intuitive and accessible.

Most impressively, only three chapter members managed the majority of the sales operation using Zeffy's Point of Sale platform. A few additional volunteers assisted with setup and distribution, but the fundraising effort itself was run by a remarkably small team.

The results exceeded our expectations.

In a single weekend, we sold approximately 328 items and raised $10,101.

What made this event particularly successful was how Zeffy allowed us to combine online pre-orders, social media outreach, and in-person sales into one streamlined system. Rather than spending our time managing spreadsheets, tracking payments, or troubleshooting technology, we were able to focus on what mattered most: connecting with supporters and sharing our mission.

Whenever questions arose, Zeffy's support team was responsive, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. As a volunteer-led organization, every hour saved on administrative work is an hour that can be spent helping veterans.

The impact of these funds reaches far beyond the fundraiser itself.

Our chapter annually provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for veteran families, purchases holiday gifts for children, funds wheelchair ramps and chair lifts, assists with transportation to medical appointments, supports critical home repairs, and helps connect veterans with resources that improve their quality of life.

One project in particular represents why this fundraiser matters:

An aging Vietnam combat veteran with severe mobility limitations had become effectively trapped inside his apartment. Unable to safely navigate the stairs, he was increasingly isolated from the outside world. Using funds raised through efforts like this one, our chapter paid for electrical work and a professionally installed chair lift, investing more than $5,000 to restore his independence. Today he can once again leave his home, enjoy the outdoors, run errands, and participate in daily life.

In another case, our members mobilized immediately to assist an elderly veteran who needed to relocate to housing better suited to his physical needs. We purchased a trailer, coordinated volunteers, and completed the move, ensuring he could transition safely and with dignity.

What surprised us most wasn't simply the amount raised. It was realizing how much impact a small group of volunteers could create when equipped with the right tools. Zeffy enabled three volunteers to manage a fundraiser that generated more than $10,000 in a single weekend while expanding our reach through online sales, social sharing, pre-orders, and in-person transactions.

Fundraisers are often measured by dollars raised. We measure success by lives changed.

For our chapter, Zeffy wasn't just a payment platform. It was a force multiplier that helped us turn a flannel fundraiser into meaningful support for the veterans who need it most.