Just days after the horrific tornadoes struck across Kentucky, the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program (CCHVP), which is part of Canton American Legion Post 45 and Woodstock Legion Post 316, worked with the State of Georgia VFW to provide much needed relief items to affected veterans.
CCHVP, which has Kimberly-Clark as a corporate partner and is a veteran and nonprofit distribution point for Kimberly-Clark, had just received a large shipment of infant products, Kleenex and other items, and was in the process of moving this donated product to various veteran and non-veteran organizations.
Drew Keenan, VFW legislative representative for the State of Georgia, knew about the product, having been the recipient of over 750 winter coats from CCHVP, and reached out to director Jim Lindenmayer to see if the VFW could obtain a U-Haul truckload of materials to take up to Kentucky.
With just a few days, a plan was put together for the VFW to bring a 26-foot U-Haul truck to Post 45 and pick up a full truck of product to take to Kentucky. Supporting the VFW and CCHVP in the product loading was American Legion Auxiliary Unit 45, headed up by Auxiliary President Betty Lewis.
John Bruss, Post 45 finance officer and member of Canton VFW Post 5262, led the joint organizational pack-out. This effort was a great example of how the various VSO organizations can come together to help others in need, noted Bruss. We also wanted to thank Kimberly-Clark for their generous donation of product to our organization so that we can help the community in which we live and serve, Lindenmayer went on to add. In all over 12 pallets of materials were packed out and delivered in support of those in need in Kentucky.