A fishing fundraiser builds community in support of veterans

Hundreds of fishermen packed like sardines into Stone Path Malt on Dec. 1, not only to examine vendors wares and swap fishing stories, but also to raise money for veterans in need during GW Customs third annual Fishing Show Before Christmas.

Glenn Chatfield, owner of GW Customs the Wareham based custom fishing gear business, said he started the fair three years ago to do two things, help the fishing community stay connected after the summer and to raise money for Fishing for the Mission 22, a Buzzards Bay based organization dedicated to helping veterans reintegrate into society and combating veteran suicide.

Chatfield explained that he met the founder of Fishing for the Mission 22, Harold Skelton, a few years ago. At the time, the non-profit was struggling financially and after learning more about the challenges veterans face, Chatfield organized the first fishing show with the goal of helping the organization raise money.

"I was unaware until three years ago that 22 veterans a day lose their life to suicide and I have the upmost respect for those that are willing to serve," said Chatfield.

He added that he was able to raise $7,000 in five hours during the first show and since then, the number of vendors has almost doubled, with the addition of a number of big name fishing industry businesses, like Z Bass. While Chatfield did not know how much this year’s show would raise, his goal is always to top the $7,000 mark.

Skelton said the community support they get from the fishing show helps them continue to support veterans.

"Between connecting with business owners down to homeless veterans we're all one person at the end of the day and we all need to help each other," said Skelton. "We connect people from all walks of life to see how we can come together to support people who are struggling in the community."

During the show, many of the vendors donated something to be raffled off and all the money made from selling raffle tickets goes directly to Fishing for the Mission 22.

Ron McKee said he is a friend of Chatfield and he makes his own lures that he sells at the show. He said he donates whatever lures he can to be raffled off and was glad he could support veterans.

"I think we need to do things like this so people in the community know that we're here for them," said McKee.

Chatfield explained that the fishing season in the northeast comes to a close around early December and while other shows kick off in January, he wanted to give the fishing community a place to gather and reconnect before the holidays.

"Nobody was doing any fishing shows for Christmas and I saw all the craft shows and thought why don't we do a craft show for fishermen," said Chatfield.

Close to 40 vendors from as close as the south coast and as far as Pennsylvania packed Stone Path Malt with a variety of hand crafted, custom fishing gear.

Geoffrey Klane builds his own fishing rods and owns Brackish Outfitters based in Lowell and fell in love with fly fishing in 2014. He said the show has helped him build a relationship with other people in the fishing community.

"It's great getting in front of people and getting people to see my work," said Klane. "I'm still new to the fishing show scene and I think a big part of what sells my gear is it allows people to see how into it I am."

Wareham resident Mimi Dimauro was at the show and said that there was a lot of "fish talk" where people exchanged some of their best fishing stories from the past season.

"People get to rekindle what they experience over the summer as part of the fishing season and they're able to get ready for winter knowing there are other people with the same interest," said Dimauro.