Heapings of holiday cheer
Post 114 members packed and distributed 45 Thanksgiving baskets this week. Photo by Barb Mosher
By Barb Mosher, Contributing Writer
A little over a year ago, Rob Turnbull was sitting with a few fellow veterans at AMVETS Post 114 in Elk Rapids when an idea popped into his mind. He turned to the post commander, Jack Moran, and said, “Why don’t we do Thanksgiving baskets?” Moran instantly replied, “Why don’t we?”
And so they did. AMVETS members teamed up with Sons of AMVETS, the American Legion, and the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary to bless area veterans and other community folks in need with the fixings for complete Thanksgiving meals including turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, rolls, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, and a $10 grocery gift card to cover miscellaneous ingredients.
“We found some veterans in need and some other folks in the community who could use a helping hand, and we put together 15 baskets last year,” said Turnbull, who served in the United States Navy from 1986 to 1991.
The project was such a hit with those who created the baskets as well as those who received them that Turnbull and his team immediately began gathering goods for Christmas baskets; 20 of those were distributed as well. “Annette Radosa, president of the Ladies Auxiliary, also cooked and delivered meals to ten individuals who live alone,” Turnbull added.
As the holiday season approached this year, Turnbull told Moran he wanted to double the number of baskets. “I thought maybe it was a bit ambitious, but honestly I didn’t realize how many people there are who could benefit from something like this,” he said.
“We’ve enjoyed tremendous support from the community over the years, and it’s a great feeling to be able to give back,” Moran agreed. “Not only are we helping veterans’ families, we also get the opportunity to help some families in our local community as well.”
As it turned out, the number of Thanksgiving baskets tripled this year. While food prices have increased significantly since the 2022 holiday season, Turnbull is pleased that strategic shopping starting in October has enabled the Post to provide 45 baskets at only a little over twice last year’s expense. “We’ve also received tons of support from the Acme Meijer, and Village Market supports us year-round,” he said.
This past Sunday, Post volunteers packed 45 Thanksgiving baskets (banana crates, actually) and anticipate giving out at least as many at Christmas. “Presumably, financial situations aren’t going to change (in a few weeks’ time), so anyone who benefitted from a Thanksgiving basket will get a Christmas one as well,” Turnbull said. “If you need a hand you need a hand. We can’t save everyone, but we can swing for the fences and try for as many as we can.”
“We do this because veterans have done so much for us,” added Ladies Auxiliary member Nancy Staffan. “This is the least we can do for them, and for others in the community as well.”
A little over a year ago, Rob Turnbull was sitting with a few fellow veterans at AMVETS Post 114 in Elk Rapids when an idea popped into his mind. He turned to the post commander, Jack Moran, and said, “Why don’t we do Thanksgiving baskets?” Moran instantly replied, “Why don’t we?”
And so they did. AMVETS members teamed up with Sons of AMVETS, the American Legion, and the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary to bless area veterans and other community folks in need with the fixings for complete Thanksgiving meals including turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, rolls, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, and a $10 grocery gift card to cover miscellaneous ingredients.
“We found some veterans in need and some other folks in the community who could use a helping hand, and we put together 15 baskets last year,” said Turnbull, who served in the United States Navy from 1986 to 1991.
The project was such a hit with those who created the baskets as well as those who received them that Turnbull and his team immediately began gathering goods for Christmas baskets; 20 of those were distributed as well. “Annette Radosa, president of the Ladies Auxiliary, also cooked and delivered meals to ten individuals who live alone,” Turnbull added.
As the holiday season approached this year, Turnbull told Moran he wanted to double the number of baskets. “I thought maybe it was a bit ambitious, but honestly I didn’t realize how many people there are who could benefit from something like this,” he said.
“We’ve enjoyed tremendous support from the community over the years, and it’s a great feeling to be able to give back,” Moran agreed. “Not only are we helping veterans’ families, we also get the opportunity to help some families in our local community as well.”
As it turned out, the number of Thanksgiving baskets tripled this year. While food prices have increased significantly since the 2022 holiday season, Turnbull is pleased that strategic shopping starting in October has enabled the Post to provide 45 baskets at only a little over twice last year’s expense. “We’ve also received tons of support from the Acme Meijer, and Village Market supports us year-round,” he said.
This past Sunday, Post volunteers packed 45 Thanksgiving baskets (banana crates, actually) and anticipate giving out at least as many at Christmas. “Presumably, financial situations aren’t going to change (in a few weeks’ time), so anyone who benefitted from a Thanksgiving basket will get a Christmas one as well,” Turnbull said. “If you need a hand you need a hand. We can’t save everyone, but we can swing for the fences and try for as many as we can.”
“We do this because veterans have done so much for us,” added Ladies Auxiliary member Nancy Staffan. “This is the least we can do for them, and for others in the community as well.”
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