Queen contestant Hailey Bruce, daughter of Elvin and Christy Bruce, and little miss spat contestant Leah Fuccella, daughter of Kevin and Mikella Fuccella, are leading a project called “Veterans In Need” to raise awareness about veterans in the community. Both Hailey and Leah come from military backgrounds. Hailey’s father served 30 years in the Coast Guard, her grandfather Gordon Bruce was in the Air Force, and her great-grandfathers Max Morton and William Beswick served in the Army and Navy during World War II, respectively. Leah’s father, Kevin Fuccella, is a retired Air Force member, and her mother, Mikella, served six years in the Virginia National Guard. Their deep military roots make this cause particularly meaningful to them.
“Veterans In Need” focuses on addressing the challenges faced by veterans. Their goals include expressing gratitude, facilitating quality time, providing services and support, and assisting with everyday needs like yard work, household repairs, and other necessities. They are working on several ongoing projects, such as clearing a backyard to create a garden, partnering with Hands Across Middlesex on repairs to a veterans home, supporting a Meals on Wheels program, and collaborating with a local dentist to offer dental care for veterans.
To fundraise for their cause, Hailey and Leah are hosting a pancake dinner and silent auction on July 27 at the Beacon in Topping. Through their efforts, they have built meaningful relationships with veterans in the community and made a positive impact.
