Northwest Suburbs Remembering Veterans With Poppies
Arlington Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 981 depends on the generosity of the suburbs it represents to fund charitable organizations that support active duty service people and veterans.
On weekends before Memorial Day members are given permission by supermarkets, drugstores, and hardware stores in both Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove to distribute poppies and receiving donations.
The COVID pandemic in 2020 prevented that activity.
In 2021, the Post was unsure whether the public would be comfortable with the personal encounter required for the poppies. The residents of both those suburbs responded as never before.
Over two Saturdays VFW Post 981 collected over $7,000, the highest ever.
Post 981 sets all donations aside in a fund separate from its operational account. It strives to distribute all the moneys during its fiscal year of July 1 to June 30. While the pandemic and lack of poppy donations limited last year's donations, Post 981 expects to once again to support various organizations. Some of those that were supported in the past were Lovell VA Hospital patient outings; Help USA Troops sending supplies to active duty service members; K9's For Veterans; USO; and the Gary Sinese and Fisher House Foundations.
VFW Post 981 thanks everyone who responded.