Maryland Post 82 has been collecting food and other supplies for those impacted and will distribute them on Nov. 23.
During the recent federal government shutdown, American Legion Auxiliary member Jill A. Hudnell repeatedly watched on the news the lines that developed at food banks and pantries – some who were furloughed federal workers, veterans or both.
And that did not sit well with the member of Auxiliary Unit 82 in La Plata, Md. – an opinion she shared with her husband, Post 82 member and U.S. Army veteran Anthony Hudnell.
“I looked at my husband and I said, ‘You know, this just isn’t fair.’ And he knows that whenever I say something like that, I’m getting ready to do something,” Hudnell said. “When I was watching these lines – just hundreds of people who have missed paychecks because of the shutdown – it really bothered me to my core because that’s not who we are. I told my husband I wanted to do something. I feel like I should do something.”
That’s when Hudnell went to Post 82 leadership to see about staging a food drive for those impacted: federal workers, military personnel, veterans and their families. She presented it to Post 82 Commander John Flatley, who Hudnell said “was over the moon about it. He said, ‘We’d love to do this,’ and it kind of took off from there.”
That led to the launch of a two-part initiative called “Shutdown Support Food Relief,” which consisted of a large collection effort at Walmart, as well as smaller efforts elsewhere and allowing for items to be dropped off at Post 82.
Hudnell said Flatley connected her with LifeStyles of Maryland, a nonprofit organization that assists with housing, food insecurity, mental health and other areas for underserved state residents, to coordinate the distribution. The nonprofit is allowing the post to use its parking lot and also helped with purchasing food from Southern Maryland Food Bank through monetary donations. LifeStyles also promoted the effort on social media.
The effort at Walmart on Nov. 15 included setting up collection tables at multiple entrances and throughout the parking area, asking for such items as:
· Non-perishable food items;
· Diapers and baby supplies;
· Household essentials; and
· Holiday meal staples.
Even though the shutdown was over by that time, more than 51 boxes of food were collected. “I told people that even though the shutdown is over, we’re asking people to help and just donate even one item,” Hudnell said. “One lady looked at me and said, ‘Honey, the shutdown is still going on.’ She said it’s still being felt all across, and she said, ‘I thank you guys for being out here.’ And that was all I needed.”
But the collection effort didn’t start and stop with the food drive at Walmart, which has provided turkeys for Thanksgiving meals. Monetary donations came in, including $3,000 from Unit 82, $300 from American Legion Riders Chapter 82 and $3,000 from an anonymous donor.
“And the food keeps flowing in,” Hudnell said. “At Costco we have bins we have to pick up there. At local education center, we’re picking up food from there. It’s all over. And from 2-8 (p.m. when the post is open), people are just coming in bringing us food.”
The post is collecting food through Nov. 20 to have enough time to prep for distribution day on Nov. 23.
“This is going to be a pretty exciting time for us, because not only are we giving back to the community … and not just staying idle, but we’re touching so many lives,” Hudnell said. “This is what we do. I want all of the public to know that the Legion stands with our community. We stand with military families. We stand with veterans, and we’re not going to let you go by the wayside. We’re going to make sure we’re supporting you in this difficult time.”
- Community