Holton American Legion Auxiliary to help make Christmas brighter for local families

Three local families have been chosen by the Holton American Legion Auxiliary to receive assistance during the holiday season, and auxiliary members are asking local residents, organizations and businesses to help.

The Mary L. Bair Unit 44 Legion Auxiliary is starting “Operation Veteran Aid” this year, according to auxiliary secretary Jessica Buhrman, and the new program’s aim is to help local veterans and their families who are in need during the holidays. The program’s goal is to aid at least three families per year, Buhrman said.

“We are asking local organizations, businesses and community members to aid these families in other urgent and emergency needs, such as food, clothes and fuel, in the form of gift cards or certificates, or cash or check donations to be used to purchase cards or certificates,” Buhrman said. “We are also hoping to get donations of gifts or gift cards to be used to purchase gifts for the children of these families.”

Auxiliary members are asking those interested in making donations or pledges to do so before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16 — the time and date of the auxiliary’s next meeting, to be held at the Veterans Club in Holton.

Buhrman said the families chosen by the auxiliary for assistance this holiday season will remain anonymous until after they receive that assistance. However, such assistance being sought for each family is detailed below.

The first of the three families involves the single mother of a 14-year-old boy, and the woman’s parents and grandparents are military veterans. The family “struggles with food,” Buhrman said, and the woman is in need of renovations for her home.

“We have someone willing to do the labor,” Buhrman said of the first family, “if proper lumber gets donated. Also, gift certificates from local grocery stores would be helpful all year.”

The second family involves a local veteran who is a single mother of two boys, ages 8 and 11, and who has recently lost her job. Buhrman said food and fuel gift certificates are being sought for this family, as well as monetary donations to aid in short-term bill payments while the woman seeks new employment.

The third family involves a single mother of four, including three girls aged 13 to 15 and a seven-year-old boy with “severe disabilities,” Buhrman said. Food and fuel gift cards and certificates are being sought for the woman, whose mother and deceased grandfather are veterans, she added.

“We feel it is important to help our local veterans and their families,” Buhrman said. “We need to show our love, respect and honorable support for them and their families who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms, to show that we will never forget or walk away from those who gave all when they are in need.”

For more information, contact Buhrman at (785) 741-4957 or e-mail JBuhrman20@gmail.com