After adding just two new members last year, Statesboro’s VFW post plans to do more community service in 2015, but continues to struggle for volunteers and funds.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10825 is holding a fundraiser, taking orders for cooked barbecue in the form of whole Boston butts, for pickup April 4. The price is $25.
This and other fundraising efforts will help the post resume hosting Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay contests for high school and middle school students in Bulloch County and provide assistance to veterans enrolled at Ogeechee Technical College, said Post Commander Jerry McCarthy.
“We want to start these programs up, you know, but our members are spread thin as it is,” he said.
The high school Voice of Democracy Contest is a gateway to state and national contests with a scholarship worth $30,000 as a top prize. The Patriot’s Pen, for middle school students, offers a $5,000 top prize.
Because of declining resources, Post 10825 stopped sponsoring the local contests a few years ago but is taking steps to resume next school year, McCarthy said.
Just last year members, most of them veterans of World War II through the Vietnam War, considered discontinuing the post, but marched on after the new members, one a Vietnam veteran and the other a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, joined.
The post continues to seek younger veterans as members and is reaching out to veterans who are not members yet, McCarthy says. For example, they have a day planned for veterans and their families at Splash in the Boro.
They also intend to assist some veterans attending OTC, who have families and face limitations on their GI Bill education funds, he said.
The post’s resources come from member dues, $35 per year, and limited fund-raising efforts. A major share of proceeds from the post’s Buddy Poppy sales, held twice a year, is dedicated to the VFW National Home for Children.
During March, the post also presents awards to Georgia Southern University ROTC cadets and Junior ROTC students at local high schools.
Members would also like to start community recognition programs for teachers, police and firefighters, McCarthy said.
Those who would like to order a Boston butt can call the VFW at (912) 481-4955 or McCarthy at (912) 865-5618; Chris Goodson at (912) 481-4955; or Dean Rakoskie at (912) 225-3306. Orders are being received in March for pickup April 4 at the American Legion Hall, 21 Rucker Lane.