The caravan poses for a photo outside of the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home in 2020. (Photo courtesy of Patti Lloyd)
By MADDY VITALE
Sea Isle City’s VFW Post 1963 wants to make sure that local veterans receive gifts this Christmas season as a small showing of appreciation for their bravery and duty to their country.
This month, Post 1963’s Auxiliary is hosting the annual holiday gift drive. Items will be delivered to the Vineland Veterans Home on Dec. 2. From now, through Nov. 28, the community has a multitude of ways to give a veteran a gift.
“All veterans are special to us, but Vineland Veterans (Memorial) Home is the largest in our area,” explained VFW Auxiliary President Patti Lloyd. “They house approximately 300 veterans and we also support Veterans Haven South. They house almost 100 veterans and we also look after our county nursing home residents.”
Lloyd noted that the gift drive is being done in conjunction with the VFW post members. The post is headed by Lloyd’s husband, Commander Mark Lloyd.
The goal is to provide a special holiday present to veterans to remind them that people are thinking of them.
“When it comes to Christmas, it is important to make sure the veterans are remembered and that is our goal as a district auxiliary,” Patti Lloyd said in an interview Thursday.
The VFW will be collecting gifts until Nov. 28 and then volunteers will wrap them and deliver them to the Vineland Veterans Home on Dec. 2.
The volunteers pose for a photo outside of the Vineland Veterans Memorial Home in 2020. (Photo courtesy of Patti Lloyd)
And new this year, the veterans home asked that Post 1963 add a link to make gift-giving even easier with loads of suggestions of items that are wanted and/or needed by the veterans.
Just click on this link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/14V8FFLD552ID.
Donations may be shipped directly to VFW Post 1963, Attn: Auxiliary, 301 JFK Blvd., Sea Isle City, 08243.
There will be a caravan of people taking the gifts over to the veterans home, Lloyd said.
“Any community member who would like to join us is welcome to,” she said. “We are meeting at the post on 11 a.m. and we will form a caravan.”
And like the previous years, there will be a parade of cars that bring the presents and good cheer.
She urged participants to have their holiday well-wishing signs ready, bells, whistles, air horns and even dress in their ugly Christmas sweaters for the holiday gift drive.
“After we drop off the gifts at the main entrance, we will drive in a circle so that all of the veterans can see us from the window,” Lloyd said. “Residents who can’t get to a window will be able to hear how people appreciate them and thank them for their service. Some don’t have family and we try to let them know they are special and that they are all there.”
For more information about VFW Post 1963 and the Auxiliary, visit www.vfwpost1963.com or visit the Facebook page or visit the auxiliary Facebook page.
