AUSTINTOWN — The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 2 hosted a ribbon cutting last week to officially open its new office in the Austintown Plaza next to Harbor Freight.

“We received a discounted monthly rent that will help us continue our mission,” said DAV member Dale Baringer, who also serves as a Veterans Service Commission member. “We were paying $800 a year for storage sheds. This location will cost us less.”

Baringer would not say what the actual rent was, but did say the plaza owner, Marty Solomon, and the reduced rent were very helpful for the DAV in its mission.

He said the new location in the Austintown Plaza will give the DAV a central location to host its monthly meetings and run the scooter-wheelchair program with charging stations for batteries. Chapter 2 also provides Honor Guard services at veterans’ funerals, places American flags on veterans’ graves, provides honor and color guard services, gives out coupons for food at Christmas, issues pins and flags at nursing homes and hospice care, assists in paying bills for veterans and participates in the annual Memorial Day and Fourth of July parades in Austintown.

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Mike Senchak from FirstLight Home Care presented DAV Chapter 2 with a check for $600 to help with expenses and to help provide for new batteries for the power chairs the organization gives to disabled veterans.

“Through the years, we have supported the mission of the DAV,” Senchak said. “They do such great work, and what they provide with mobility needs is unmeasurable.”

That great work also was noticed by plaza owner Marty Solomon and his grandson, Andrew Solomon, who said, “We are happy to work with them and give them an affordable rent for what they do. We are very happy to have them as tenants.”

Austintown Township Trustee Robert Santos also was on hand and is a member of the DAV. He said it was an honor to be a part of the organization and as trustee he is proud to have Chapter 2’s home in Austintown.

DAV member Bob Cooper thanked everyone for the help to get the DAV Chapter 2 a permanent home office.

“We really thank the people of Austintown,” he said. “You have our backs.”

The new plaza location will be a dropoff point for those wishing to donate wheelchairs and mobility scooters for the veterans’ program. To make a donation or set up a dropoff time, call 330-774-8479 or 330-717-4187.

The new office will not keep regular hours, but will open for events and programs as needed.