Operation Helping Hand Turns 9

The nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping wounded soldiers and their families.

When Carrollwood's Bob Silah convinced members of the Military Officers Association of America’s Tampa Chapter to launch Operation Helping Hand nine years ago, chances are he didn’t expect the nonprofit would still be going strong nearly a decade later. Since wounded soldiers are still arriving all the time at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital’s spinal cord injury and comprehensive rehabilitation units, it is and the need continues to grow, said Silah, a retired Navy captain who served in Vietnam. Since its launch in May 2004, Operation Helping Hand has lent support to more than 700 people, said Silah, who serves as the group’s chairman. The grassroots, all-volunteer nonprofit operates on donations from the community to provide wounded…

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Top Headlines of the Week

Here's a rundown of what we covered

First off, Happy Mother's Day, moms! Now, in case you missed it, here are our top headlines of the week: What was your favorite story this week on Patch?

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Bob Silah Provides Help and Hope to Injured Soldiers

Operation Helping Hand was founded for families with loved ones in the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital with no place to turn.

Since the inception of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, more than 1 million soldiers have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Of those, 21,000 have been wounded in combat, and about 46 percent have been medically evacuated, according to the Journal of Rehabilitative Research and Development. Many of the injuries ultimately require a stay at the world-renowned James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, and months, if not years, of rehabilitation. During this difficult recovery process, family members are encouraged to stay with their soldiers, providing a much-needed support system. The situation begs the questions: Who supports the families? The average age of a wounded soldier is between 19 and 20 years old. Often, the families …

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U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis Attends Kiwanis Club Meeting

The congressman stopped by Carrollwood last week

The Carrollwood Kiwanis Club meets on Wednesdays at Brunchies in Carrollwood, featuring guest speakers and networking over lunch at the popular eatery off north Dale Mabry. Last week, the organization welcomed U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis, who represents Florida's 9th congressional district. Did you attend the meeting?

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Carrollwood Resident Bob Silah Honored by Tampa Bay Lightning

Silah runs nonprofit organization Operation Helping Hand