The Rhode Island Military Organization (RIMO) Lounge at the Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport  was packed with  state representatives Thursday along with a check large in both size and value.

The organization received a $20,000 grant from the Rhode Island House of Representatives, under a bill co-sponsored by all members of Warwick’s House delegation.

RIMO director Tim Howe, also a Warwick City Councilman, said that the legislative grant is the largest the organization has received.

“This is the first, and it’s the greatest honor,” Howe said. “It is truly an honor that after ten years of our service, the House of Representatives understand what we do. We’re the silent service, and that’s what we’re very proud of.”

Howe said the funds would be used to ensure that the organization’s logistics run smoothly and that they can provide for veterans looking to use their services.

“We make sure there’s liability insurance for our board members, our locations, as well as our volunteers so that they are protected,” Howe said. “We are also doing food- our military come in, they need it on the go… It is a constant flow of logistics, and that is what this money will go to.”

Howe also credited Cardi’s Furniture for donating furniture, and said individual donations have helped RIMO purchase accessories for the airport lounge.

Shekarchi, speaking alongside fellow representatives, said that seeing the work that RIMO has done made it an easy decision for the House of Representatives to approve the grant..

“We’re very happy to do this, because you’re a great organization that does great work for veterans,” Shekarchi said. “And we just want to say- thank you for your service.”

Shekarchi also said that the House was always looking to “have the backs of the military community,” and did so by speeding up an elimination of a tax on military pensions. He credited attendees Camille Vella-Wilkinson (D-Warwick), Deb Fellela (D-Johnston), Ed Cardillo (D-Johnston), Marvin Abney (D-Newport) and Samuel Azzinaro (D-Westerly), saying they were major reasons why that happened.

Howe said that the lounge, which celebrated its ten-year anniversary last year, was of particular importance to RIMO, especially in its efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were closed for the pandemic, but we somehow kept the operations going and kept this facility in good care,” Howe said. “And when we opened again, we were bombarded with an influx of backordered military that were now moving. As soon as the order was released, we had twice to three times as many travelers as we normally had, and we were barely breathing.”

The lounge has seen 2,600 visitors since the beginning of July, according to RIMO Vice President Dan Evangelista.

The lounge also contains QR codes which highlight landmarks and locations around Rhode Island, as well as within Warwick. The goal, according to Howe, is to get visiting military members interested in eventually settling in the state.

“Hopefully, they’ll come into the state of Rhode Island and see how beautiful it is and fall in love with it, like many other people have,” Howe said.

Howe said that the support for RIMO was “going to go a long way” in helping the organization fulfill its purpose of helping the state’s veterans.

Shekarchi agreed.

“It’s not just about today,” Shekarchi said. “It’s not just about this check.”