Monthly Blog

Michele Brinson 901-734-8160 email

First, I want to say “thank you” to all of the auxiliaries who have been reporting their volunteer activities and hours spent with other organizations in our communities. To date, we have had a total of 36 reports from 19 auxiliaries, totaling 384 members and 1,323.50 hours. I want to recognize the following auxiliaries who have submitted reports: 2434, 3036, 3253, 3373, 3806, 3962, 4100, 4272, 4934, 4970, 5393, 5395, 5397, 6731, 7531, 9832, 12124, 12216, and 12192. In addition, I want to recognize three auxiliaries and share with you what they have been doing:

• Auxiliary 6731: To date, they have had 4 members volunteer a total of 120
  hours with the Friends of the Jackson County Animal Shelter and with Jackson
  County Animal Rescue.
• Auxiliary 9832: To date, they have had 80 members volunteer a total of 240
  hours with Grace Place.
• Auxiliary 5397: To date, they have had 69 members volunteer a total of 350
  hours with Twin Forks Rising CDC, Shady Grove Church, Kappa, Girl Scout
  Troop 3884, and with Hawkins Elementary School.
  I feel certain all of you are doing Auxiliary Outreach and just want to remind you
  that there is still time to get your volunteer activities approved, reported, and
  counted.
  Remember the Steps to a Successful Auxiliary Outreach Project are:
• Vote and approve a motion to provide assistance and partner with other
  organizations in your community in your meeting and record that approval in your meeting minutes. Approval should occur prior to the outreach activity except on rare occasions such as a natural disaster or emergency. You can do this where it covers all activities/partnerships for the entire year or prior to each activity/partnership as they occur.
• Partner with organizations that could use assistance.
• At least one Auxiliary member must participate in order to be counted as auxiliary outreach, and projects may be done by only the Auxiliary or together with the VFW Post.
• Wear VFW Auxiliary attire while participating (shirt, hat, name badge, lanyard, etc.).
• Take pictures of all the amazing things you are doing in your communities and share with other auxiliaries, your Department Historian, National Headquarters, and with me.
• Count all volunteer hours (but not monetary donations).
• Share information about the VFW Auxiliary; i.e., what we do, why we do it, how
  someone can become a member, etc.
  Now, Let’s Take Another Look At What’s Considered Auxiliary Outreach:
• Projects that are not affiliated with the VFW or VFW Auxiliary.
• Volunteering your time/hours collecting needed items.
• Participating in walks that benefit other organizations by being an event spotter, water station volunteer, timekeeper, etc. (Note: Does not include walking in the event or sponsoring someone who walks in the event).
• Partnering with law enforcement personnel with child ID kits, bicycle safety
  training, collecting stuffed animals, etc.
• Partnering with firefighters with fire safety and prevention training, passing out smoke detectors.
• Partnering with EMTs by helping with CPR training.
• Partnering with Senior Citizens Centers by teaching a basic computer class,
  playing bingo, doing arts and crafts, etc.
• Partnering with parks and recreation departments or garden clubs by adopting a park, planting trees, cleaning up; etc.
• Partnering with animal shelters by cleaning kennels, walking animals, collecting bedding, cleaning supplies, food, leashes, etc.
• Partnering with homeless shelters by serving food, cleaning up, etc.
• Partnering with food pantries/banks or Meals on Wheels, stocking shelves,
  packing boxes, serving food, delivering meals, etc.
• Partnering with Life Blood at their blood drives.
• Partnering with organizations such as House of Grace, Hope Ministries, Sacred
  Heart, by collecting, sorting, and passing out clothing, household goods,
  furniture, appliances, etc.
• Partnering with organizations that provide medical equipment by collecting
  needed items; i.e., wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, etc.
• Partnering with a church hosting a community-wide event Easter egg hunt,
  trunk or treat, breakfast with Santa, Vacation Bible School, fall festivals, etc.
  Please don’t forget to take photos or your activities. Remember, one Auxiliary in each of the 10 Program Divisions with the most outstanding photo collage of their Auxiliary Outreach partnerships during the Program Year will receive a Citation and $25 at the end of the year.
  Again, thank you for all of your hard work. If you have any questions or need
  assistance, please contact me via text/phone call at 901-734-8160 or via email at . I look forward to seeing many more reports in the coming months from all of you and hope to see you in March.

Michele Brinson 901-734-8160 email

Hope everyone had a very happy Thanksgiving. Before we know it, Christmas and the New Year will be here. As you know, this time of year is filled with so many wonderful opportunities to volunteer and partner with organizations to help others; for example: serving meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas, collecting coats for kids, sorting gifts for the Angel Tree program, packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child, helping with Breakfast with Santa programs, and so much more. Also, there is also still a need for volunteers to collect and pack donations for the Hurricane Helene and Milton victims. 

Bambi Johnson, our National Auxiliary Outreach Ambassador, is asking each Department Ambassador to share some of the most outstanding projects and send her one or two of our best examples of our members partnering with other organizations by January 10, 2025. She plans to share this with everyone during the Mid-Winter Conference. So, I can’t wait to see your reports and pictures of all of your amazing volunteer activities. 

As a reminder, this year’s theme is From Our Roots to Our Branches, Extending Service To Our Veterans (and to their families, our communities, and to organizations within our communities). So, let’s take another look at what Auxiliary Outreach is and what your auxiliary can do to help make a difference and to help others. 

Steps to a Successful Auxiliary Outreach Project: 

– Vote and approve a motion to provide assistance and partner with other organizations in your community in your meeting and record that approval in your meeting minutes. Approval should occur prior to the outreach activity except on rare occasions such as a natural disaster or emergency. You can do this where it covers all activities/ partnerships for the entire year or prior to each activity/partnership as they occur. 

– Partner with organizations that could use assistance. 

– At least one Auxiliary member must participate in order to be counted as auxiliary outreach, and projects may be done by only the Auxiliary or together with the VFW Post.

– Wear VFW Auxiliary attire while participating (shirt, hat, name badge, lanyard, etc.). 

– Take pictures of all the amazing things you are doing in your communities and share with other auxiliaries, your Department Historian, National Headquarters, and with me. 

– Count all volunteer hours (but not monetary donations). 

– Share information about the VFW Auxiliary; i.e., what we do, why we do it, how someone can become a member, etc. 

What’s Considered Auxiliary Outreach: 

– Projects not affiliated with the VFW or VFW Auxiliary. 

– Volunteer your time to collect needed items for organizations who serve the community. 

– Participate in walks that benefit other organizations such as an event spotter, water station volunteer, timekeeper, etc. ( etc. – Partner with animal shelters by volunteering to help clean kennels, walk animals, collect bedding, cleaning supplies, dog/cat food, leashes, etc. 

– Partner with homeless shelters by serving food, bussing tables, cleaning up, etc. 

– Partner with food pantries/banks or Meals on Wheels to stock shelves, pack food boxes, serve food, pass out food boxes, deliver meals, etc. 

– Partner with the Red Cross or other groups at their blood drives. 

– Partner with organizations that provide clothing, household goods, furniture, appliances, bedding, etc., by sorting items, passing out items, collecting needed items, etc.; such as House of Grace, Hope Ministries, Sacred Heart, etc. 

– Partner with organizations that provide medical equipment; i.e., wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, etc., by collecting needed items. 

– Partner with a church hosting a community-wide event Easter egg hunt, trunk or treat, breakfast with Santa; Vacation Bible School, fall festivals, health screenings, etc. 

Auxiliary Outreach Program Award: 

Most outstanding photo collage created by the VFW Auxiliary of their auxiliary Outreach partnerships during the current Program Year. Citation and $25 to one VFW Auxiliary in each of the 10 Program Divisions that creates the most outstanding photo collage of their VFW Auxiliary partnerships during the current Program Year. 

Thank you to Auxiliaries 3036, 7531, 9832, and 12124 for all that you are doing and for reporting your activities. As a reminder, please submit your reports and include the number of volunteers, the number of hours spent volunteering, and the name of the organization you helped. 

Also, please be sure to send pictures of your auxiliary activities to me and to Lisa D. Mayer-Thompson, our Historian, on or before January 10, 2025.

If anyone has any questions or needs assistance, please feel free to contact me. May God bless each of you and your families and help us to continue to bless others. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year