With inflation abounding all over the country, as well as the rest of the world, there has been an influx of mail requesting assistance from so many charitable organizations it is almost impossible to determine which ones should be helped first.

The VFW has been urging the AIR (Asset and Infrastructure Review) members who received the recommendations to restructure the department’s health care system. The members of the commission were presidentially appointed, but will need the Senate’s approval to join the commission. President Biden announced 12 nominees, 10 from the VA and 2 from the Department of Health and Human Services. This is a very viable and necessary cause, but only the tip of the iceberg!

Pledges for Animals, the children needing the services of St. Jude, PAWS for Patriots, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Feed the Children, The Jewish Federation for their Starving Elderly, The American Legion, the VFW, The Local Police and Sheriffs’ Organizations, the list goes on and on. And all of these exist through the generosity of our citizens. Here at the Lehigh Acres VFW, Post 4174, we also try to see to the needs of our local community and donate whenever and to whomever we can.

Now, with summer almost over for our schools, the need for supplies is looming and this year, even more families than normal are needing some form of assistance to be certain their children have the supplies they will be expected to bring when going back the beginning of August.

Even with all the help, during the typical school year, teachers end up using much of their own money to purchase items they might require for a certain lesson. While they are given a small allotment at the beginning of the school year, it does not stretch very far, and with the current inflation problems, will provide even less.

Here at our Post, we have a box for the donation of school supplies and any monetary contributions may be turned in to the bartender. Hopefully, we will have to empty the box several times with supplies! We were able to assist 4 schools last year and are hoping to do even more this year. Why not drop in and donate whatever you can afford? You’ll be glad you did!