NILES — Two months ago, when a veteran was facing breast cancer and struggling to pay bills, a local organization stepped up to help out, raising $3,000 to offset expenses.

Because of the same organization, another local veteran and his wife were recently gifted a washer and dryer when theirs stopped working. Last Sunday, when a local mother was forced to leave a violent relationship, the organization gifted living room furniture.

Now, this organization, the Amvets in Niles, is asking for the community’s help in fundraising so that it can help more veterans in the future.

“We do what we can for locals,” said Tracy Kendall, a member of Amvets Ladies Auxillary. “In medical situations, the VA will pay for medical expenses, but that doesn’t cover the cost of missing work, or all of the other costs that come with it.”

This weekend, the community will have the opportunity to contribute to these efforts and more when Amvets hosts a fundraiser at the post, 1117 E. Bertrand Road, across from Rural King in Niles Township.

The fundraiser, which runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, will feature three opportunities to give back. Guests can shop for hidden treasures at a yard sale on the lawn, enjoy a meal served by Bulldog BarBQ, and finish the meal off with a visit to the Ladies Auxiliary’s bake sale, featuring “the best banana bread you’ll ever eat,” according to Kendall.

“[Bulldog BarBQ] has helped us out quite a bit with fundraisers,” Kendall said. “We host funeral dinners often — we always host them absolutely free. … If a veteran has passed and you need some place to have a dinner, we even help with the side dishes.”

Two months ago, Bulldog BarBQ catered an event to raise money for a veteran battling cancer. When Amvets hosts a McDazzle event at the end of the summer to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Bulldog BarBQ plans to serve food there, too.

Tony Trenshaw, co-owner of Edwardsburg-based Bulldog BarBQ, said he and his wife, Jill, enjoy helping the organization because its mission is close to their hearts.

“My wife and I, we come from a family of veterans, and we also volunteer at the local VFW in Edwardsburg,” Trenshaw said. “It’s just our way of giving back to the military and raising money for veterans that need help.”

During this week’s fundraiser, the Trenshaws will serve smoked hotdogs topped with pulled pork or blue cheese coleslaw, pulled pork sandwiches, and brisket, all served with smoked potato chips. Plates range in price from $4 to $8.

“We pride ourselves in giving a nice, generous portion,” Trenshaw said. “Everything is fresh, nothing frozen, at a reasonable price.”

Similar to the Trenshaws, Kendall joined the Amvets because her grandfather served in the armed forces, and she found it to be a good way to give back to the community. Kendall said that since Keri Witte took over as post commander two years ago, the Amvets organization has vastly increased its community outreach.

Witte, who served eight years in the Navy, is the first female commander for the Niles post. She said that while she supports the VFW and American Legion — and partners with them from time to time — she was drawn to the inclusivity of the Amvets organization.

“With the VFW, you have to have served in a foreign war to be a member. With the American Legion, you have to have served during a time of conflict, which I did both,” she said. “With the Amvets, you just have to have served honorably. If you served your country, then you’re eligible to join our organization.”

Niles Amvets currently has around 225 members, including the auxiliary and sons of veterans. Witte said that last quarter, the Niles post was second in the state for most growth, and the organization continues to grow rapidly.

Amvets’ efforts extend outside members, too. Each year, the Ladies Auxiliary hosts parties for Christmas, Halloween and Easter, with activities such as present passing, costume contests and Easter egg hunts, which are all open to the community.

“As a general rule, [funds] go to support our local veterans,” Witte said. “However, if there is a family in our community in need — say a family has had a house fire — we will step in to help.”

With many more veterans in need of their help, Kendall and Witte encourage everyone to stop by the Amvets post Friday or Saturday.

“We’re truly here to help,” Kendall said. “But unfortunately, that costs money.”