Category Archives: Veterans & Family Support

Becki Todd 901-262-8183 EMAIL monthly report form

“Soaring Above and Beyond for Our Veterans”

Greetings to All My Super Supporters!
Congratulations to everyone! All of your reports have been received and recorded. I want to thank each of you for the hard work and dedication you have shown this year with the care, love and support given to our veterans, their families and our active duty military members. We could not do this without YOU!

Even though the reporting year is over this does not mean that our support stops. Our veterans deserve everything we can do for them. Please continue to make visits and calls to check on our veterans and their families, taking meals, transportation to appointments and donating to service organizations such as Unmet Needs, Disaster Relief, Suicide Prevention and 5th Squad.

We CAN and DO make a difference! Keep up the great work!

“Banding Together for Our Veterans”

Becki Todd 901-262-8183 EMAIL monthly report form

“Soaring Above and Beyond for Our Veterans”

Hello to all my Super Supporters!

Spring is almost here y’all so take a moment to smell those flowers that are already blooming! The end of the year is continuing to get closer and closer but I encourage you to keep up your great work with our veterans and their families.  There is always support to be given and shared.

Remember to also promote and support our VFW programs within Veterans and Family Support.  These include National Veterans Support (NVS), Military Assistance (MAPS), Unmet Needs, Disaster Relief and Veterans and Military Suicide Prevention/Mental Health Awareness.

These are all worthy programs to help our veterans and military.  Be sure to include one or more when you are holding a membership or buddy poppy drive.

Some dates to think about as your auxiliaries make plans of support for this month:

March 13 is K9 Veterans Day which was founded in 1942 during WWII
March 25 is National Medal of Honor Day which is the highest of military honors
March 29 is Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day which was not established until 2017. We still have some of these hero’s with us so let us definitely show them our love, support and appreciation that they didn’t get when they came home.

As always, I remind you to get your reports in to me.  I want to be able to recognize you for your hard work and dedication to our veterans.  I will take your information however it is easiest for you to share, by email, text, send a pic, snail mail or just call me, I would love to talk to you.  I am always available to help you.  I am deeply grateful for each of you and for the love and support you continue to show our veterans.  Keep up the awesome work!

“Banding Together for Our Veterans”

REPORT the SUPPORT!

Becki Todd 901-262-8183 EMAIL monthly report form

“Soaring Above and Beyond for Our Veterans”

Greetings my Super Supporters!

Now that we have made it through January’s snow and ice (for some of us) that precluded us from meeting for our Mid-Winter convention, we need to continue looking forward.  There is always work to be done and support to be given!  I encourage you to continue looking for and thinking of new ways to support our veterans and their families, in addition to the ever present direct aid.  This includes but not limited to meals, transportation, cards, phone calls/text messages or donations (monetary).  Go sit with a veteran or give a family member a break from taking care of their veteran. It is very important to remember those caregivers! Take them a treat as well or just to visit. One of our auxiliaries was able to visit a World War II veteran who has been homebound fighting cancer and said he felt “forgotten”. What a blessing for all of those involved!

Let’s also not forget to promote and support our programs within Veterans and Family Support.  These include National Veterans Support (NVS), Military Assistance (MAP), Unmet Needs, Disaster Relief and Veterans & Military Suicide Preventation/Mental Health Awareness.  These are all worthy programs to help our veterans or military in different ways.  

Some dates to remember as your auxiliaries make plans of support for this month:

 the week of February 12 is National Salute to Veteran Patients and also Valentine’s Day.

Plan an outing to visit your local VA hospital or nursing homes and thank those veterans plus I think they like treats! Show lots of love, they deserve all that and more for their sacrifices they made for all of us.

As always, I remind you to get your reports in to me, time is flying by and I want to be able to recognize you for your hard work for our veterans. I will take the information however it is easiest for you to share it, by mail, email, text or simply call me and I will take the information that way. I would love to talk to you! I am deeply grateful for each of you and the love and support you show our veterans. Keep up the great work!

“Banding Together for Our Veterans”

I am always available to help with any questions concerning your reports.

                   REPORT the SUPPORT!

Becki Todd 901-262-8183 EMAIL monthly report form

“Soaring Above and Beyond for Our Veterans”

Hello to all Super Supporters!

During the last days of this year we should reflect on the many blessings that we have shared as well as received.  I share my gratitude for all of our auxiliary members who have enriched the lives of our veterans, their families and our active duty members.  Be loud and be proud of all you have accomplished, from that one small thing to many big things or events.  It all matters to a veteran or their family and that is our goal with this program. I love hearing about all the big things that are reported on, especially at Christmas but do not forget to let me know if you only made a phone call to a veteran because it is more than JUST a call to that veteran. 

As we continue to work together, doing all the wonderful things that you do for our veterans, I urge you to report on any and all of what you are doing in support of our veterans. The report is short and you can call, text a message or picture, email or snail mail a report form to me.  

I am deeply grateful for each of you.  I wish you and your families much love, joy and peace in the coming year and that you always share that with our veterans. 

“Banding Together for Our Veterans”

I am always available to you for any questions or to help with reports.

REPORT the SUPPORT!

Becki Todd 901-262-8183 EMAIL

“Soaring Above and Beyond for Our Veterans”

Greetings and Happy Holidays to all my Super Supporters!

We made it through Thanksgiving and now on to Christmas.  Please remember our veterans and their families during this holiday season, not only to take meals but to just check on them.  The holidays can be so lonely for those that are alone.  Take them to look at Christmas lights or to a community Christmas parade.  Is your auxiliary making Christmas cards for our veterans homes and/or taking goodies to them? Let me know and for goodness sake fill out one of those reports!  

I want to thank and encourage all of you to continue doing the wonderful work that you already do in taking care of our veterans and their families. Don’t forget to also take care of yourself and your families as well.

“Banding Together for Our Veterans”

I am always available for questions or to help with your reports.  Call me, email or text.

REPORT the SUPPORT!

Becki Todd email 901-262-8183

“Soaring Above and Beyond for Our Veterans”

Happy Fall to all my Super Supporters!

 November is one of our busier months in support of OUR Veterans and their families. 

     It is Military Family Appreciation Month.  It is important to remember the spouses and children left behind by our deployed troops.  Things that can be done for them is to adopt a family for the holidays, offer to run errands or offer to watch the children to give the parent a break.

     It is also National Caregivers Month.  Please remember these selfless souls. They are giving so much of themselves to take care of a Veteran, a spouse or children.  Take them a meal, offer to give them a much needed break by sitting in for them or sending them to do something fun for themselves.  

     Veterans Day is only about a week away.  Has your Post or Auxiliary planned an event, a banquet or will be involved in a parade to honor Veterans?  Let me know and please share pics.

     Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. Remember your Veterans and families that may be alone.  It’s nice to take a meal or groceries to them but wouldn’t it be even more wonderful to invite them to share a meal with your family. 

Thank you for all you do for our Veterans, service members and their families.

“Banding Together for Our Veterans”

I am always available for questions or to help with your reports.

REPORT the SUPPORT!

Becki Todd 901-262-8183 EMAIL

“Soaring Above and Beyond for our Veterans”

Hello to all my Super Supporters!

  August sure has been a busy month for all of you.  I know you are sending meals and providing transportation to different places and just calling to check on our veterans and their family members.  There have been events going on such as suicide prevention walks to promote suicide awareness and to remember our 22+ veterans that we lose on a daily basis.  There was also a veterans giveaway of clothing and other items this month.  I love seeing all this activity in your communities and I know that there are more events planned in the coming months.  Keep up the great work.

Remember to also continue to promote the National Veterans Service (NVS), Military Assistance (MAPS) , Unmet Needs and “Sports Clips Help a Hero Scholarship”.   The Unmet Needs under the Veterans and Military Support (VMS) has had a change. The new grant amount has changed from $1500.00 to $2500.00 but veterans are no longer eligible. These grants are only for active duty members whose hardship is a result of current deployment, military pay error or military related injuries while on active duty. Please make note of this  change.  

Continue to utilize the awesome Veterans & Family Support materials/resources available on the National website, malta.vfwauxiliary.org. 

I have been doing training on this program at district school of instructions.  If your district is having one, please let me know. I would be happy to come and share information.  I hope to see everyone at our upcoming School of Instruction/Council of Administration meeting October 20-22, 2023 in Gulfport.

May we always stand united, in front of, beside and in back of all OUR veterans, to support them.

“Banding Together for Our Veterans”

I am always available for questions or to help with your reports. 

REPORT THE SUPPORT!

August 2023 Newsletter

Becki Todd 901-262-8183

“Soaring Above and Beyond for Our Veterans”

Hello to all My Super Supporters!  Our year is moving quickly and I know from the reports that I have been receiving that many of you are out there showing support for OUR veterans.  You have been taking meals, shuttling to Dr. appointments and also promoting the programs within this program.  I want to encourage you to not only continue supporting our veterans but also get out and promote these programs, National Veterans Service (NVS), Military Assistance (MAPS), 

Unmet Needs, Disaster Relief and Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness.  Schedule an event with or without your Post for the promotions.  Combine it with an event you already have scheduled or are planning to have.   

Also remember to utilize the Veterans & Family Support materials/resources available on the National website.  Visit malta.vfwauxiliary.org.  There is great stuff there!

If you were not able to attend our August School of Instruction, you missed this super supporter (me) in my hero costume promoting suicide prevention and mental health awareness.  I encouraged everyone to either buy a teardrop pin from the VFW store or to make your own by printing the tear drops from the above resources page and gluing them to mini clothespins, which can be found at Walmart in the craft section.  This is a great conversation starter whenever you are out and about! 

May we always stand united, in front of, beside and in back of all OUR veterans, to support them.

“Banding Together for Our Veterans”

I am always available for questions or to help with your reports. You can reach me in  several ways as well as send those reports to any of them. 

REPORT the SUPPORT!

Becki Todd Chairman

901-262-8183

I would like to thank Madame President Barbara for allowing me to continue to chair this program as it is dear to my heart.

This program was started in 1947 and was originally known as the Rehabilitation Program.  It has grown since then and become so much more.  It now includes numerous programs under its umbrella but OUR goal is still the same.  We have to care for and show support for our veterans, service members and their families. 

This year’s National theme is “Banding Together for Our Veterans” and this should be OUR motto as we work together to support our veterans, service members and their families.  This program is the heart of our organization.  We need to make ourselves visible in our communities and spread awareness of the programs and aid available to our veterans, these include:

• National Veterans Service (NVS) that helps obtain benefits that they deserve – at no cost.
• Military Assistance Program (MAPS) funds ways to connect with local military units.
• Unmet Needs has financial grants to help pay rent/mortgage, utilities, auto repairs and more.
• VFW Sports Clips Help A Hero Scholarships awards money to assist with educational goals.
• Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness.
• Supporting Homeless Veterans.
• Supporting Veteran Caregivers.

Our veterans have sacrificed so much for us, our service members continue to sacrifice as do all of their families so it is time for us to do all we can for them.  As our MS Department theme says, “Let’s Soar Above and Beyond for Veterans” and show our support like never before.

My goal again this year is to have every auxiliary in our state participate in 2 or more of the above programs AND to report that for 100% participation. Remember to REPORT the SUPPORT!

Banding Together for Our Veterans

Salutations Auxiliary Members! I am so excited to be asked to be chairman of this program for another year. Thank you to Madame President Barbara for entrusting me with it. I look forward to working with all of you again to see just how much support we can give.
Our objective as auxiliaries is to provide support to the VFW and to serve our veterans, service members and their families. This is at the heart of our organization. Our veterans sacrificed so much for us and we need to work to support them now by providing direct aid in the form of meals, transportation, donations(money), the list is endless as to what you can do.

There are several programs within this program and they include:
● National Veterans Service (NVS) – helps to obtain benefits they deserve – at
no cost. Every county in MS has a Service Officer who can help file claims or
work to ensure they receive VA Healthcare.
● Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness – confidential support is
available 24/7 by calling 1-800-MyVA411 for all VA Depts. OR call 988 & press 1, also online at veteranscrisisline.net or text 838255.

For our active duty or recently discharged service members these include:
● Military Assistance (MAPS) – funds ways for VFW & Auxiliary members to give more to their local military units. Contact VFW Veterans & Military Support at 816-756-3390 on how to apply.
● Unmet Needs – grants up to $1500.00 payable to a creditor to help with
rent/mortgage, utilities, auto repairs and more. Visit vfw.org/assistance/financial-grants.
● VFW “Sports Clips” Help a Hero Scholarship – awards scholarships up to
$5000.00 to help complete educational goals. Visit vfw.org/student-veterans-support

Also remember to utilize the Veterans & Family Support materials/resources available on the National website. Visit malta.vfwauxiliary.org and if you are not already signed up in MALTA, please do so.

May we always stand united, in front of, beside and in back of all our veterans, to always support them!
I am always available for questions or help with your report form. You can reach me several ways and send those reports to any of them.
Becki Todd