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.