Sonepar Celebrates America’s 250th With Free Lighting Upgrades for VFW Posts
VFW posts serving veterans and their families will benefit from lower energy costs and improved atmosphere thanks to Sonepar’s Bright Lights Brighter Futures program.
Charleston, S.C.-based Sonepar has identified 14 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts across the country to receive free LED lighting upgrades as part of Sonepar’s Bright Lights Brighter Futures program. This year’s program is focused on VFW locations in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the USA. Energy-efficient LED lighting will help the VFW posts save money on utility bills, reduce energy consumption, and improve the appearance and safety of their buildings.
“Supporting the VFW is a meaningful way to give back to those who have served our country,” said Bill Mortimer, Director Strategic Vendor Engagement at Sonepar USA and program lead for the Bright Lights Brighter Futures program. “These upgrades help create more welcoming spaces for veterans to come together and find camaraderie and community.”
Sonepar will cover installation costs, partnering with national electrical contractor PSG Energy Services to complete installation. Acuity Brands and Cooper Lighting are donating lighting fixtures and materials, while TerraCycle Regulated Waste will provide compliant lamp recycling services for old fixtures.
“The Veterans of Foreign Wars is deeply grateful to Sonepar for its generous support in helping bring new, energy-efficient lighting to VFW Posts across the country,” stated Carol Whitmore, VFW National Commander. “Our Posts serve as gathering places for veterans, their families and their communities, and these upgrades will help create safer, more welcoming spaces. On behalf of the VFW, we sincerely thank Sonepar for its commitment to strengthening our Posts and the communities they serve.”
The following VFW posts have been nominated for retrofits, to be completed by October through their respective local Sonepar brand as noted below:
• Capital Electric: Walter N. Brownell VFW Post 3137 in Isle of Palms, SC
• Codale: VFW Post 7398 in Magna, UT
• Cooper Electric: Clark-Moetz VFW Post 2319 in Milltown, NJ
• Crawford Electric: VFW Post 6173 in Brookside, AL
• Echo Electric: 2801 Dean Ave Post 7911 in Des Moines, IA
• Irby: Roy F. Alley VFW Post 4893 in Franklin, TN
• North Coast Electric: Three Rivers VFW Post 1324 in Oregon City, OR
• NorthEast Electrical: Chaplain Lyman Rollins VFW Post 2005 in Marblehead, MA
• OneSource: VFW Post 3834 in San Fernando, CA
• QED: Adamson-Warmuth VFW Post 6624 in Evans, CO
• Standard Electric: Borley-Hanel VFW Post 3033 in Mt Pleasant, MI
• Summit Electric: Gadsen Memorial VFW Post 4384 in Anthony, NM
• Viking Electric: VFW Post 9625 in Coon Rapids, MN
• World Electric: VFW Post 8255 in Middleburg, FL
Upgrading from outdated fluorescent to modern LED lighting reduces energy consumption and lowers utility costs, allowing the VFW post to dedicate more resources to its mission of supporting veterans and serving the local community. A single Bright Lights Brighter Futures project in 2025 was shown to reduce annual energy use by more than 23,000 kWh, which will avoid approximately 16 metric tons of CO₂ emissions per year.
Bright Lights Brighter Futures was launched in 2023 and promotes Sonepar’s global Purpose, Powering Progress for Future Generations. By the end of the 2026 program year, Sonepar companies will have completed 46 lighting retrofits providing more than $600,000 in installation services and lighting products to community non-profits nationwide.
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