Michele Brinson 901-734-8160 email
It was so good seeing so many of you this past weekend in Gulfport, but we sure missed those of you who couldn’t be there with us. As you know, 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). I’m happy to report that many of our auxiliaries are doing some pretty amazing things when it comes to Auxiliary Outreach. However, I feel certain that so many more of you are also doing some amazing outreach activities that you may not have reported yet; especially, in light of the recent devastation from Hurricanes Helene and Milton that affected so many of our fellow Americans, friends, and family throughout the southeastern United States. 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.
– 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.
I want to say “thank you” to Auxiliaries 3253, 3373, 3962, 4272, 4934, 5395, 5397, 6731, 7531, and 12124 for all that you are doing and for reporting your activities. Please if you have pictures of your auxiliary activities, send them to me and also to our Historian, Lisa D. Mayer-Thompson. In fact, I would love to see a report and pictures from every Auxiliary and to be able to share all that you are doing to help our communities and others in need. I know many of you have helped with Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton relief efforts not only coordinated by our organization but also through other organizations within our communities such as Southern Thunder Harley Davidson, Operation Freedom’s Reach, Difference Maker Ministry; through local churches, etc., by collecting, sorting, packing, and/or transporting donated items to those affected by these devastating storms. Please remember to report the hours spent volunteering and performing these activities. For those auxiliaries who have not yet submitted a report, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have or if you need assistance. Yours in Service