American Legion LCW Post No. 1

Auxiliary

In this world of ours, the American Legion Auxiliary shines as an example of unselfish giving. With almost a million members from all walks of life, the Auxiliary administers hundreds of volunteer programs, gives tens of thousands of hours to its communities and to veterans, and raises millions of dollars to support its own programs as well as other worthwhile charities familiar to most Americans. It is all accomplished with volunteers.

The following is a brief description of some of the volunteer programs the LCW Post 1 Auxiliary is currently involved in"

Americanism
We join the Legion at the schools and on flag day to present flags and teach flag etiquette. This is also a big part of girls state week and with Women in Motion, the group that we mentor.

Girls State
From our fund raisers during the year we pay for the girls that are juniors in high school to go to girls state. It is a one week "camp" of sorts where they learn about our form of government, from county to national. They can run for office and try to get bills and laws enacted. We meet the girls before they go and have them tell us a little something about themselves and why they want to go, what they expect to get out of it and bring their parents to the meeting. We invite all the girls back in the fall to tell us what they did learn and what they got out of going. Some of the girls that attend girls state also participate in the post oratorical contests.

Children & Youth
This is a very important project for the Post 1 Auxiliary. We donate money to the Legion baseball team and hold food and clothing drives for underprivileged children and there families. Our unit sponsors (pays the expenses) for one child at Colorado Christians Home. We also send money for much needed clothing and toys to Pueblo State Mental Hospital. At Christmas time we give money to the children's Christmas party, supply the cookies and punch and ensure that every child leaves with two presents after seeing Santa. Most of the children come from the Women in Motion families.

Auxiliary Emergency Relief Fund
The fund provides funds to veteran's and their families in need of financial assistance whether they are stranded in town and need bus fare, food, whatever.

Poppies
Unit 1 purchases the poppies to distribute during May, which is poppy month, for a donation. The poppies are made by veterans and all money raised goes back to veteran's rehabilitation.

Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation
We do bingo at the VA Nursing Home every other month, buy and distribute Christmas presents, make Easter baskets for all the vet's in the hospital and pass them out on Easter Sunday. We also donate money for ditty bags which contain toothbrushes, tooth paste, soap and shaving things providing the basic essentials needed when someone is put in the hospital. We also have volunteers that help with coffee and such.

Fund Raising
In order to raise money for all these programs we do Sunday Breakfasts and Wednesday Hamburger Nights along with the Christmas Bazaar and spring plant sale. Also, if there is something special that comes along, like our sweatshirts that are on sale at the post, we do that also.