New York Legion post providing 'selfless service' in feeding thousands
As a member of the Veterans Advisory Committee of Southeast Queens, Rosedale-Laurelton American Legion Post 483 in Queens, N.Y., works in tandem and shares resources with other organizations in the area to provide services to both veterans and the community.
Included in those services are a soup kitchen and four food pantries – one of the latter being housed at Post 483 for the past 10 years. But what normally had been those in need coming to the post to get food has changed since the coronavirus pandemic hit New York City.
In addition to still providing food assistance at the food pantry while following proper social distancing guidelines, Post 483 has instituted a delivery service for those veterans and at-risk seniors and shut-ins who can’t themselves get to the pantry. The effort has provided more than 1,000 families with food each week.
Post 483 First Vice Commander Sharon Sweeting-Lindsey said the post was approached about providing food delivery, which was an easy question to answer.
“Of course I said yes, because that’s part of our military mandate of selfless service: to feed the community, especially during the pandemic when a lot of them cannot get out,” Sweeting-Lindsey said. “That’s where all this started.”
Sweeting-Lindsey said during the first week of the operation 35 deliveries were made. That amount doubled the following week, and two weeks later the amount was at 154.
“It is definitely growing,” Sweeting-Lindsey said. “It’s a combination of being listed on the 311 (non-emergency assistance phone number), of word of mouth – one neighbor gets it and wants to know ‘how did you get a delivery?’ – and outreach and social media.”
A combination of Post 483 Legion Family members, members of other organizations and local residents make the deliveries, which go to those in need in Far Rockaway, Jamaica, Rosedale, Laurelton, Hollis, St. Albans and Rochdale.
Post 483 Commander Lee Blackmon praised those volunteers who have given their time to deliver the food. “To me, they’re heroes,” he said. “During the time of this pandemic, a lot of people are afraid to come out of their houses. When you find a few committed to serve the community like this, I call them warriors. It’s a very courageous thing they’re doing.”
Sweeting-Lindsey said Post 483 was able to take something it already was doing, the food pantry, and adapt it to still provide assistance during the pandemic – and something it will continue to do as long as there is a need. “What we did is we enriched the program to do the home-delivery component,” she said. “(The recipients) are very grateful. Their children call us. A lot of our seniors live by themselves and their children live in Connecticut and New Jersey. We were getting calls from children to provide the services for their parents.
“It’s getting bigger and bigger, and we’re finding out the need is even greater now. Once we do it, we’re not going to backtrack on it.”
View a gallery of Post 483's most recent food distribution here.
Arizona District 1 Legion Family Answers The Call. As the coronavirus moved across Arizona, its effect was felt particularly hard in the Navajo Nation. Through mid-May more than 3,200 cases and 100 deaths had been reported.
Seeing a need for face masks for the Navajo Nation, Free Mask Makers of Yuma – a group of 27 crafters that include Legionnaires and American Legion Auxiliary members from Posts 19 and 56 – began manufacturing face masks to fill that need. After receiving a request from the Chinle Chapter Government for masks, and group were able to produce more than 1,000 masks.
But when shipping costs became an issue, American Legion Riders Chapter 19 stepped up, donating the necessary funds to provide shipment of the masks.
“I am very proud of what the American Legion Family has accomplished thus far,” said Arizona District 1 Commander and ALR Chapter 19 Director Woodie Woodward. “Two of the founding principles of our organization are service to the community, state and nation, and devotion to mutual helpfulness. When we were approached about this project, the outpouring of generosity was overwhelming. We all hope that this gesture makes a profound impact on the Navajo Nation’s recovery.”
And now, presented for your approval and reading pleasure, our weekly roundup of just some of what American Legion Family members continue to do nationwide during this historic time.
Arizona
• In Fountain Hills, American Legion Post 58 teamed up with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7508 and FireRock Country Club to provide meals for veterans on May 13. FireRock provided up to 100 chicken piccata cooked meals that teams from Post 58 and the VFW packaged for distribution. Veterans came to Post 58 and were able to pick up the meals in a non-contact way. Those veterans without transportation had meals delivered to their homes.
• In Chico Valley, members of American Legion Post 140 organized a drive-by parade to honor Marine veteran Philip Guild’s graduation from the Veteran’s Court redemption program.
Delaware
When a member of American Legion Post 17 in Lewes fell on tough times and received a difficult medical diagnosis, members of the post’s American Legion Family organized a caravan to drive by the family’s home and show support. The post also has donated groceries to the Community Resource Center in Rehoboth Beach, to veterans at Home of the Brave in Milford, and to three other community locations assisting with food services to those in need.
Georgia
American Legion Riders Chapter 135 in Savannah has brought a new dimension to Buddy Checks. Members of the chapter recently spent a Saturday visiting fellow veterans and others who have been staying at home for health reasons. While observing social distancing, the Riders were able to visit with the veterans and their families, even bringing some sweets to them.
“Just showing them that people are still thinking about them, and remember and in their prayers,” ALR Chapter 135 Director Charlotte Fordham told WTOC-11. “We’ve had them in tears when we’ve pulled up. And they’re smiling…they’re happy tears. And they miss seeing everybody’s faces.”
Massachusetts
American Legion Post 373 in Baldwinville has been hosted food drives with support from the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation. The drives will continue at the post as part of the foundation’s Food4Vets program. Post 373 has distributed 90 “Vital Food Kits” to veterans, active-duty military, Gold Star families and immediate family members. The post also has donated $1,900 to the Templeton Food Pantry, which has provided and delivered more than 35 food care packages to veterans in need.
Post 373 Finance Officer Jim Brehio said he was happy the post has been able to assist in helping veterans and their families in the community through the Food4Vets program. “It’s a great deal to be able to do this, especially in this time of need,” Brehio told the Telegram. “This is just a great program.”
Montana
In Big Sky, American Legion Post 99 Legionnaire Jack Hudspeth wanted to do something to help area businesses while showing appreciation to frontline workers. He shared the idea with Post 99/Sons of The American Legion Squadron 99 Commander Tony Coppola, who then took it to the post membership for immediate approval.
The post came up with a list of 21 businesses and purchased $200 worth of gift certificates from each business. Other businesses will receive similar assistance as they get closer to their opening days. The post then turned around and began presenting the gift certificates to groups that include frontline workers: first responders, health-care workers, and county, postal, grocery story, newspaper, bank and gas station workers.
New Mexico
In White Rock, American Legion Post 90 and the Elks Lodge organized a community drive-by parade to celebrate the 80th birthday of Vietnam Navy veteran Roger Paglusch.
North Carolina
World War II veteran Alex Moskowitz got a big surprise on his 97th birthday: a community parade in front of his home that included Department of North Carolina Legionnaires. Moskowitz was presented with a salute, gifts and encouraging words.
“He’s so important to all the generations going forward,” American Legion Post 550 Commander Ronnie Markum told WWAY-3.
Ohio
• In Parma, American Legion Post 572 collected a trailer full of non-perishable food and household supplies in one afternoon for the All Faiths Pantry. The pantry serves Parma, Parma Heights and other local communities. “After watching on the news so many people standing in line for food or hearing about seniors not being able to get out for groceries, we felt The American Legion should be doing something more,” American Legion Post 572 Commander told Cleveland.com. “Right now, the pantries are doing a fantastic job of reaching out, especially to seniors, so we came up with the idea of a food drive.”
• Also in Parma, World War II veteran Frank Filous had more than 100 friends show up in the parking lot at American Legion Post 703 for a socially distanced surprised 99th birthday party. Filous was greeted with honking horns from cars decorated with balloons and signs. Post 703 presented Filous with a certificate of appreciation and a proclamation from Parma Mayor Timothy DeGeeter
• In Conneaut, four members of American Legion Cowle Post 151 came to Villa at the Lake assisted-living center to honor fellow Legionnaire Herb Hopkins for his 75 years as a member of The American Legion. The group visited Hopkins through his window and left with him a pin and certificate, thanking him for his 75 years of service. “We should have done this a couple of months ago but we couldn't get him down to the post [because of the coronavirus]," Post 151 Adjutant Tom Udell told the Star Beacon.
Pennsylvania
• American Legion Post 594 is providing a special blue mask for every senior from the 2020 graduating class at Middletown Area High School for their drive-up graduation ceremony. A gold letter m will be on each mask
• In White Township, World War II Navy veteran John Palys was given a 100th birthday drive-by parade that was led by American Legion Carl B. Archer Post No. 528 of Belvidere and two U.S. Army vehicles. The parade included dozens of emergency vehicles, firetrucks and private cars driven by local residents.
• The Moshannon Valley YMCA has been delivering food to thousands of children through its Anti-Hunger Program, but that effort has grown during the coronavirus pandemic, growing to up to 3,400 meals on some days. Providing support for those efforts has been American Legion Post 437 in Philipsburg, which was praised by YMCA Executive Director Mel Curtis on StateCollege.com. “I get a phone call every day from them, and they say, ‘We’re waiting for what you need us to do,’” Curtis said.
South Dakota
Unable to visit with the veterans at the Fort Mead VA Medical Center because of the coronavirus, members of the American Legion Department of South Dakota Legion Family instead gathered outside of the facility to thank the health-care workers there.
“We’re thanking all of the caregivers for the work they do,” American Legion Riders Chapter 22 Road Captain Ron Root told Newscenter 1. “We are all vets so we know that they really work hard to keep everything going and we just want them to know we appreciate them.”
Texas
• In Rockwall, Terry Fisher American Legion Post 117 organized a salute to patriots caravan that passed by senior living facilities and the Rockwall Court House, Rockwall Police Department and the Rockwall Sheriff’s Offices.
• In Calhoun County, Korean War Army veteran Liborio Benavides celebrated his 90th birthday being honored by members of American Legion Post 167 and VFW Post 4408. Benavides’ daughter Carmen reached out to Post 167 Adjutant Jerry McClendon to see if he could gather some veterans for a drive-by parade to celebrate her father’s birthday. McClendon reached out to Legionnaires and VFW members and arranged for a group to ride their motorcycles and vehicles in front of Liborio’s home. The group also gathered in his driveway to sing happy birthday to Liborio “We went by, and everybody was honking and hollering at him, and he was sitting out there with his vest and hat on,” McClendon told the Port Lavaca Wave. “It was a good way to celebrate.”
Wisconsin
In Kenosha, District 1 American Legion Riders gave a retired Marine a welcome home while helping his mom celebrate Mother’s Day. The Riders led a motorcade that included cars and a Somers Fire Department Truck in front of recently retired U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Shawn Talbert’s house to honor Talbert’s 40th birthday.
The parade was the idea of Talbert’s mother Patty Kirkorian, his mother-in-law Loretta Jaffe and his wife Angie to welcome Talbert home after tours in Iraq, where he was wounded twice.
Before the birthday parade, the same Riders rode to Sturino’s Restaurant to present its owner, U.S. Navy veteran Dino Sturino, with flags from all five branches of the military to display on the restaurant deck.