Once again, The American Legion Family has or will step up to deliver Thanksgiving assistance nationwide.
For some, Thanksgiving is a time when friends and families gather together to celebrate the day. But for those facing financial or food insecurity, or those with no family or friends nearby, Thanksgiving can take on a different meaning.
That’s why for decades American Legion Family members across the nation set aside their own plans to assist others. Throughout the nation, American Legion posts and their membership will be providing or taking part in community dinners – many for those unable to afford their own Thanksgiving dinners or, in some cases, for those working on Thanksgiving and away from their own friends and families.
Those efforts were especially important this year, coming just weeks after the federal government reopened and some of those receiving food assistance saw those benefits halted.
The following are just a few examples of how the American Legion Family have served or will serve as a hub for this week’s holiday for those around them. American Legion Family members who either hosted Thanksgiving meals or provided food relief efforts to those in their communities are urged to share those efforts, both in words and photos, at www.legiontown.org.
Arizona
In Safford, Sons of The American Legion Squadron 32 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 32 will serve free holiday meals to the entire community at American Legion Swift-Murphy Post 32. Last year, the squadron and unit served nearly 600 meals, including delivering meals to on-duty first responders.
California
· In Palm Spring, American Legion Post 519 distributed 300 Thanksgiving meals to active-duty military, veterans and their families on Nov. 19. The effort received funding assistance from Toyota and Honda of the Desert. Whatever wasn’t given away is distributed to other places that cater to veterans.
· In Salinas, American Legion Post 31 will serve free Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 27 starting at 11:30 a.m. until food runs out. Last year the post served 800 people.
Florida
In Jacksonville, American Legion Post 197 will host a free Thanksgiving dinner that is open to the entire community and will include a clothing giveaway for adults in need.
Illinois
· In Rockton, American Legion Post 332 is hosting its second annual free Thanksgiving Day meal open to area homeless, those with no family in the area or those who do not feel like cooking. Anyone unable to attend and living in Rockton, Roscoe or South Beloit can request a meal be delivered. “I know times are tough for many people and not having family nearby or at all was a big contributing factor in starting this,” said Spencer Cushing, the event’s organizer. “As we enter our second year hosting the Thanksgiving Dinner, our hearts are full seeing how much support we receive. More volunteers, more donations, and seeing the impact just hits home for us. It shows how strong and generous our community truly is.”
· In Palatine, Post 690’s American Legion Family again is conducting its Adopt-A-Sailor Thanksgiving dinner for recruits from Naval Station Great Lakes. “We are once again opening the American Legion on Thanksgiving Day to those that are actively serving our country,” said American Legion Auxiliary Unit 690 member Sue Hallsten, who serves as the dinner’s chairman. “It is our goal to provide to these young men and women a memory that will stay with them their entire life.”
Iowa
In Polk City, American Legion Post 232 delivered 450 meals to veterans Nov. 23 during its 11th annual Holidays 4 Heros event. Hundreds of volunteers from the community gathered at the Legion for the event to pack the holiday meals, while the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has helped Post 232 deliver its meals for several years.
“Throughout the year, we raise funds to be able to provide meals for Polk County and area veterans that, you know, are fallen on hard times or just need a meal,” American Legion Riders Chapter 232 Director Curtis Carrington said. “We have community volunteers that come in and make the boxes up, and then once the all the boxes are made up, then they’re going to just create like a chow line because we’re military, we know how to do things in order.”
Maryland
In Synepuxent, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 166 is providing Thanksgiving dinner boxes to local Coast Guardsmen and a free dinner to all veterans.
Michigan
· In Hale, American Legion Post 422 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 422 will offer a free community Thanksgiving dinner. Attendees have the option of either dining in with other guests at the post or taking a dinner to-go. Disabled veterans and senior shut-ins are invited to call for delivery.
· In Adrian, American Legion Post 97 and the Veterans Community Action Teams have partnered to provide free Thanksgiving food baskets for veterans and their families. The baskets include Thanksgiving dinner staples, including a boneless turkey breast.
· In Springfield, Capt. Oscar Brady American Legion Post 298 hosted a free Thanksgiving-style meal to area veterans. Battle Buddies Transportation, LLC and other volunteers provided transportation services and meal delivery.
Mississippi
In Horn Lake, American Legion Post 134 is inviting the community to a Thanksgiving meal and also will provide meals for local senior citizens and first responders.
Missouri
· In Parkville, American Legion Post 318 is providing complete Thanksgiving meals that serve 10 to 50 active-duty soldiers families at Fort Leavenworth and veterans families in the community. The effort is a collaboration with Aldi’s and several local business support.
· In Webb City, American Legion Post 322 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7630 hosted their annual free Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 23. The meal included roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and other of the day’s staples.
Nevada
In Fallon, Fred W. Anderson Post 16 will prepare and deliver Thanksgiving meals to the county’s seniors and also open its dining room to the community for a homemade Thanksgiving meal.
New Jersey
In Ocean City, Sons of The American Legion Squadron 524 is hosting 50 U.S. Coast Guard recruits stationed at Cape May’s Coast Guard Training Station for Thanksgiving for the second straight year.
The recruits will be picked up by charter bus and brought to Morvay-Miley-Cruice Post 524. Following coffee and breakfast snacks, the recruits can take part in multiple activities, including games of pinball, pool, shuffleboard, darts and cornhole.
The also will be provided a meal that will include turkey, tenderloin, pulled pork and all the traditional side dishes.
“I can't think of a more fitting way to celebrate Thanksgiving than to demonstrably express our gratitude to these young men and women who have chosen to serve our country and our community,” SAL Squadron 524 Commander Mike Byerly said. “Hopefully today’s festivities will ease the burden of being separated from their families and serve as a reminder that their fellow Americans appreciate their sacrifices and service.”
Squadron 524’s effort is receiving support from the American Red Cross’s New Jersey Region and its Operation Fireside.
New York
In Black River, Post 673’s American Legion Family provided a free Veterans & Community Appreciation Meal Nov. 16 for area veterans, military personnel, federal employees and the community as a whole.
“This year with the shutdown and the food stamps and just everything just hitting everybody so close to the holidays, we didn’t know how to give back and help everyone more than just a few people," said American Legion Auxiliary Unit 673 Secretary Samantha Alter.
North Dakota
In Velva, American Legion Post 39 teamed with the Velva Veterans Group for a Nov. 20 Thanksgiving meal giveaway for those in need. Items distributed included turkey, ham and other Thanksgiving staples.
Pennsylvania
In Summit Hill, Sons of American Legion Squadron 316 will continue a decades-long tradition of providing funds to purchase turkeys that are distributed by the Summit Hill Food Pantry.
“It’s a great feeling that we have the resources and the monetary ability to do this because of the fundraisers that we do throughout the year,” Squadron 319 Commander Stanley Karnish said. “The fact that we are able to donate to the food pantry every year is a great feeling for our SAL organization. We’re just glad to help the people who need it at this time, especially right now with the economy.”
· In Coudersport, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 192 hosted its Senior Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 9. Seniors and children age 5 and younger received free meals that consisted of turkey and gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, acorn squash, coleslaw, cranberry sauce, rolls and butter, coffee, tea and water, and a dessert table. Unit 192 also has been collecting non-perishable items to be donated to local food pantries.
Utah
In Cedar City, American Legion Post 74 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 74 will host a free Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 27 at the First Baptist Church for area veterans and anyone in the community in need of a meal.
West Virginia
In Logan, American Legion Post 19 provided a free early Thanksgiving meal for veterans and their families in the area. The meal was provided for and prepared by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 19 and Post 19 members.
“One of our purposes here at the American Legion in Logan is to be involved with the community,” Post 19 Commander Christopher Stone said. “I’m trying to get more involved with community, help out the community, find veterans and help them out in any way we can.”
- Community