As the coronavirus began to spread, members of VFW Post 12063 in Westcliffe, Colorado, committed to doing whatever they could to help. They have several projects operating in this challenging time and most are coordinated with the office of VFW Service Officer John Carroll.
Members of the Post are focusing primarily on Buddy Checks for fellow veterans and collecting food and providing it to anyone who is facing hardship. Carroll’s office serves as one place to store food for distribution, and Carroll makes sure veterans he works with get access to food when they need it.
“We have some very dedicated members in our Post,” said Senior Vice Commander Dr. James Phelps. “They are calling veterans to check on them and ask how they are doing and if they need anything. We also let veterans know there is food available.”
The Post is known for the ways they promote generosity and service in their community. With a Veterans Trust Fund state grant and money raised locally, they provide a large amount of food and financial assistance to veterans and families in the area throughout the year. They were recently awarded a grant from an additional foundation that will allow them to continue pandemic response programs through the summer.
“We’re doing our best to follow the guidelines set by the government and help those in need and protect those at high risk,” said Post Commander Kenneth Daniels.