ALA UNIT 18

Thank you to all of our generous givers who are bringing joy to a single mother and her 3 kids! ALA Unit 18 is proud to sponsor a MCUM family! each child is going to have seven gifts each under the tree. And we are excited to give the mother a few gifts as well. May we fill their hearts with love and joy this holiday season! 🎅🏻☃️❄️

As you recover from your delicious Thanksgiving meal and you prepare for the next big holiday, know that ALA Unit 18 is thrilled to have you as a member! Try not to stress out this next 30 days! Enjoy the present! A shout out to our elves for ensuring that the post is in the holiday spirit!!

Wishing you many blessings!!!

We only have 5 gifts left to secure for our Monroe County United Ministries family. ALA Unit 18 is blessed to have such caring members! If you would like to purchase an item or two to help us provide a Christmas for these three children and their mother, please click on the link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1H6KSHBSPVNJ2?ref_=wl_share Let the spirit of the season flow to those in need! Thanks for your generosity!

In local congressional districts and in Washington, D.C., ALA members work to keep veterans’ issues in front of legislators, strengthening our mission to serve veterans, military, and their families. 🇺🇸 ✨ While we may think that one voice may not make a difference on its own, that one voice — added to the voice of others — quickly becomes a collective power of influence that can impact the decisions of our elected officials. Joining together, Auxiliary members can and do make a difference. 🗣️ We encourage you to sign up for Legislative Action Alerts through The American Legion’s Grassroots Action Center and play your part in advocating for our veterans, military, and their families. 📲 ➡️ Sign up today! 🔗 www.votervoice.net/AmericanLegion/Register #AmericanLegionAuxiliary #LegionFamily #ActionCenter #LegislativeActionAlerts #votervoice #register #ALALegislative

Members - your bag of goodies needs to be turned in by noon TODAY! 30 bags full of non- perishable food will be available for Veterans at 5pm! If you know a Veteran in need, please feel comfortable to approach Amy Terry, Lisa Liford, or Jenny Tracy to coordinate an exchange! Any Veteran is welcome to take a bag! First Come, First Serve! Thankful for our Veterans!

This holiday season Unit 18 is sponsoring a family from Monroe County United Ministries for Christmas. We have been assigned a family of four – a single mom and three children. To make things easy and ensure we are getting the correct sizes and wishes of the family, we have put together a wish list on Amazon. If you would like to purchase an item or two to help us provide a Christmas for these three children and their mother, please click on the link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1H6KSHBSPVNJ2?ref_=wl_share All you have to do is add the item to your cart and when paying, choose to ship it to the list owner (Unit 18 Vice President Kristin Martindale) and she will gather everything up and bring it to the post for wrapping at our December meeting. Thanks for bringing joy to this family!!!

During this time of year, many members enjoy focusing attention on helping others. And ALA Unit 18 is about supporting Veterans! During the holidays, we are usually so focused on ourselves, on gifts, baking, coordinating schedules. The holidays can be intense and very self-centered. It feels really good to shift that focus to helping others. And as with so many things, if you begin the tradition of helping others, now, then it becomes part of your holiday tradition for the future. ALA Unit 18 is looking to provide a meal for a Veteran and their family for Thanksgiving. We would like to provide “meal bags” for 30 veterans for Thanksgiving. Each bag is to be filled with a list of items. We are looking for members and/or friends to take a bag or two and then purchase all of the items on the list and place them in the bag. The price of a bag is approximately $22. If you would like to participate reach out Amy Terry at [email protected]. All bags need to be returned to the Post by November 17th. Do you know a Veteran in need? Let us know so we can be sure they are supported! We will be sure they get a bag of Thanksgiving goodies! Please know any VETERAN can have a 🦃bag! Pick up of goodies is on Nov 20 5p-6p. Reach out if you would like more info!!!

Veterans Day 2024 was a beautiful day- we packed the house and kindness was every where! Thank you for your service! “And we must never forget that it is the mighty arm of the American warrior — never bending, never breaking, never yielding — generation after generation that secured for us the blessings of a nation that still stands today as the beacon of liberty, democracy, and justice around the world.” – Joe Biden

We thank the men and women who served our country, past and present. 🇺🇸 Thank you for your service, sacrifices, and for protecting our freedom. You are our heroes. #VeteransDay #AmericanLegionAuxiliary #ALAforVeterans #ForeverGrateful

We are excited to invite you to our American Legion Auxiliary meeting tonight! This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow members, discuss upcoming events, and contribute to our community initiatives! Your participation is vital to the success of our programs and the support we provide to veterans and their families. We look forward to seeing you there! There is a virtual option if that is easier for you to attend. ALA Unit 18 Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://www.gotomeet.me/jennytracy/ala18 You can also dial in using your phone. (For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.) United States: +1 (646) 749-3122 Access Code: 417-687-709

We are needing your help! HVAF (organization called Helping Veterans and Families) in Indianapolis experienced a devastating fire on Saturday evening displacing 48 veterans! We need your help by donating full size hygiene items! ALA Unit 18 needs to do this quickly as we want to present items at the district meeting to HVAF representative (or Grace Otey Honorary Junior Auxiliary President). Please drop off your items by Thursday evening at the American Legion Post 18 or feel free to Venmo funds so we can purchase items for you! WE NEED YOUR GENEROSITY, PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING !

ALA Unit 18 took action in raising awareness about suicide! It's ok to not be ok! Participating in the Out of Darkness Walk is not just an event; it’s a powerful movement aimed at raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. As participants gather to walk, they unite in solidarity to honor those we have lost and support those who are struggling. The atmosphere is filled with hope and resilience, as individuals share their stories and experiences, reminding us that we are not alone in our battles. This walk serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of mental health advocacy, encouraging conversations that can help reduce stigma and promote understanding within our communities. In addition to raising awareness, promoting the “Be the One” initiative during the walk highlights the impact one person can have in the life of someone who may be struggling. This campaign encourages individuals to reach out, listen, and support those in need, fostering a culture of empathy and compassion. Each participant can take the message of “Be the One” back to their communities, inspiring others to take action and be a source of support. By emphasizing connection and understanding, we can create a ripple effect that promotes mental wellness and encourages individuals to seek help when they need it most, ultimately working towards a future where everyone feels valued and supported. ALA Unit 18 raised $243.64! Way to go!!

Support the ALA LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM! Take Action here: https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/AmericanLegion/Campaigns/116903/Respond? Here are some other ways to advocate for veterans’ rights: Attend town hall meetings: Speak at local town hall meetings to raise awareness about veterans’ rights. Write to the editor: Write letters to the editor in your local newspaper about veterans’ rights. Support community programs: Participate in or establish community programs that support veterans. Vote.

ALA Unit 18 is bringing awareness to suicide! If you’re struggling, it’s okay to share your feelings! We are here to support those in need! We are participating in the OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK this Sunday and we want you to join our team. REGISTER NOW - join our team! Whether you can walk or not, be a part of our efforts! Register for the Bloomington Out of the Darkness Walk! It is free to register and family-friendly! afsp.org/bloomington Go here to find ALA Unit 18 https://supporting.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=3194933 We will be meeting at 1:30pm at Switchyard Park! We are also showing our support by promoting the BE THE ONE mission! Today, the No. 1 issue facing the veteran community is suicide, according to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. It is estimated that between 17 and 22 veterans or servicemembers take their lives each day. That’s more than 6,000 annually. The rate of suicide for veterans is more than 50% higher than that of non-veteran adults. As the Global War on Terrorism continues, there will be more veterans facing mental-health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder. What will Be the One achieve? At its core, The American Legion is activating a national platform to reduce the rate of veteran suicide. The Be the One campaign will: *Destigmatize asking for mental health support, creating opportunity for those with mental health issues to speak freely and get the support they need. *Provide peer-to-peer support and resources in local communities. *Deploy FDA-approved therapeutics for veterans to identify issues and find resources for support.

“I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: ‘I served in the United States Navy.’” - John F. Kennedy October 13 marks the birthday of the U.S. Navy, which traces its roots back to the early days of the American Revolution. On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress established a naval force, hoping that a small fleet of privateers could attack British commerce and offset British sea power. The early Continental navy was designed to work with privateers to wage tactical raids against the transports that supplied British forces in North America. To accomplish this mission the Continental Congress purchased, converted, and constructed a fleet of small ships — frigates, brigs, sloops, and schooners. These navy ships sailed independently or in pairs, hunting British commerce ships and transports. Two years after the end of the war, the money-poor Congress sold off the last ship of the Continental navy, the frigate Alliance. But with the expansion of trade and shipping in the 1790s, the possibility of attacks of European powers and pirates increased, and in March 1794 Congress responded by calling for the construction of a half-dozen frigates, The United States Navy was here to stay. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAVY! ⚓️

Please bring a donation to the meeting tomorrow! We are collecting items for HVAF! YOUR DONATION WILL HELP A VETERAN AND THEIR FAMILY! We are looking for the following items: o Hormel Chili With Bean o Dinty Moore Beef Stew o Chef Boyardee Beef In Tomato & Meat Sauce Ravioli and Beefaroni o Maruchan Instant Lunch, Ramen Noodle Soup o Peanut Butter o Hamburger Helper o Tuna ▪ Starkist in pouch ▪ Starkist Creation Box ▪ Bumble Bee Snack on The Run Tuna Salad with Crackers Kit ▪ Chicken of the Sea Can’t make the meeting - no problem! Send a donation to us via Venmo @ALAUnit18. Please add the comment HVAF!