Poppy drive helps local VFW
Published 5:46 pm Saturday, November 7, 2015
er’markiaus and Ka’licia Hall handed out poppies Saturday in front of Winn-Dixie on Dallas Avenue for the VFW Post 3016’s annual Buddy Poppy Drive.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3016 and members of the Selma and Southside High Schools Air Force Jr. ROTC programs handed out hundreds of tiny red flowers Saturday for the annual Buddy Poppy Drive.
The drive was set up at five different locations in Selma and Dallas County, including both Winn-Dixie stores, Wal-Mart, Gabe’s Grocery and Tractor Supply Co.
“It just means a lot to me that I can stand here and give out these Buddy Poppies knowing that there are a lot of people that can’t stand here doing this for a lot of different reasons,” said Jack Caber, a member of VFW Post 3016.
“Some of them are disabled and some of them gave everything they had. They gave their all for this freedom we observe here in the United States.”
The drive is held every year on the Saturday before Veterans Day, which is coming up on Wednesday, to raise money for disabled veterans.
“The money that we raise goes back into the relief fund at our post, and that money is used to help veterans if they come by the post,” said Patsy Stone, auxiliary president of the VFW Post 3016.
“If they need food, we take them somewhere and buy them food. If they need gas, we take them to the gas station.”
Stone, who’s husband is a Vietnam veteran, has helped organize the drive since 1996.
Stone said it is amazing to see the community’s support for the people that fought for their freedom.
“We enjoy doing this, and the community support is just unbelievable,” Stone said. “We owe all of our freedoms to the veterans, and this is our opportunity to give back to the veterans in need.”
While the drive is a great opportunity to recognize veterans and raise money, Stone said it is also an opportunity to teach the JROTC members that help with the drive about the sacrifices that were made.
“We wouldn’t have the same freedoms that we would have now if it wasn’t for them, so I like giving back to my community and helping people out that are in need that did things for us back in the days,” said Aleciabria Gantt, a Selma High School JROTC member.
The VFW Post 3016 will also be giving out poppies at the Veteran’s Day ceremony Wednesday at Memorial Stadium. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.
