Members of VFW Post 1963 gathered on the front lawn of their headquarters in Sea Isle City on Dec. 2 to load a fleet of vehicles with presents before setting off on a “Holiday Caravan” to the Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland.
Once they arrived, they distributed the gifts and an abundance of holiday cheer to the home’s residents.
The gifts were collected by the members of Post 1963’s Auxiliary and included toiletries, comfortable apparel, arts and crafts supplies, snacks, sweets and other items during a month-long drive that ended in late November.
Before the group left Sea Isle for Vineland, Mayor Leonard Desiderio thanked the veterans and the Auxiliary members for their kindness to others. Father Perry Cherubini, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church, led everyone in prayer and blessed all of the gifts.
Once the caravan arrived in Vineland, it was greeted by many spectators lining the streets as well as 40 vehicles from Vineland’s fire, ambulance, police and public works departments.
The first responders then escorted the caravan to the front doors of the Veterans Home, where Post 1963’s volunteers delivered the gifts as many of the facility’s residents looked on from their windows.
“The gift-collecting process went very well this year partly because we worked with the Veterans Home to create a special link on Amazon.com that made it very easy for people to participate in our drive,” VFW Post 1963 Auxiliary President Patti Lloyd said.
“We had an overwhelming response during this year’s drive, and we were absolutely thrilled to see the first responders, municipal employees and residents of Vineland that showed up in support of the veterans living in the Memorial Home.”
“I like to say that we know how to make an entrance, but this time you could not miss us, thanks to all of the support we received from the people of Vineland. Plus, all of the sirens and cheering allowed the home’s bed-bound residents to know that there were people outside who care for them and appreciate their service to our country,” Lloyd added.
In addition to the many gifts that were delivered to the Veterans Home on Dec. 2, the Holiday Caravan also included 885 handmade greeting cards that were created by students from Ocean City’s Middle School and High School, Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School, Cape May County Technical School and the Deerfield Township School District.
“The gifts were wonderful, but I feel that the handmade cards were priceless, because they let the residents of the veterans home know that even our young Americans appreciate what they have done for this country – and that is very important,” Lloyd said.
For more information about VFW Post 1963 and their Auxiliary, go to www.vfwpost1963.com or call (609) 263-1711.
