t F


or Department of New York President Karen


Dotson, every penny counts. Every nickel, dime, quarter and dollar count, too, and the spare change is all adding up for a worthwhile cause. Dotson and her team, baby


bottles in tow at Auxiliary functions and Conferences, are collecting coins and cash donations for the VFW National Home for Children’s nursery. By May, she hopes to present the Home with about $2,500 to help with all of the extras that babies need – everything from diapers and wipes to cribs and mattresses. “I’ve made several trips to the National Home,


and it always gives me this sense, this feeling I get, of love and support and gratitude and peace,” Dotson said. “Words just can’t describe it. I wanted to do something to give back. I want this to materialize into doing something good for the nursery.” With the chime of every coin that goes into their


bottles, District and County Council Presidents, New York’s Veterans & Family Support Chairman, the Department Aide to the National President and Auxiliary members from the Empire State get that much closer to their goal. “Raising ‘Nickels for the Nursery’ has been fun,” said


Jane Reape, National District Council Member and District 4 President. “T e Auxiliaries in my District enjoyed donating as I carried my baby bottle from one Auxiliary to the next. How better to serve our veterans and their families than by taking care of their children.” Founded in 1925, the National Home is a 600-acre community in central Michigan that includes 42


single-family homes, a community center and gymnasium, on-site licensed child


care center, guest lodge and chapel. It is a safe


haven where qualifi ed active-duty military, veterans, their families and descendants


of VFW and Auxiliary members can get the tools they need to build better lives.


Qualifying military and veteran families can live rent-free at the National Home for up to four years while receiving educational support, child care, counseling, life skills training and more at no cost. “T e VFW National Home for Children has served military and veteran families for over 92 years thanks to generous donors like the VFW Auxiliary,” said Sue Alverson, development director for the Home. T eir support has helped maintain buildings on campus as well as provide life-changing opportunities for families that live at the National Home. T e VFW National Home for Children off ers the chance for families to heal and grow. T ank you for your continued support, VFW Auxiliary!”


Clara Dunbar, Senior Vice-President of Auxiliary 8647 and Life Member of the National Home for Children, said the Nickels for the Nursery project is one way Auxiliary members can give back to veterans and their families.


“It is important to keep (families) together and


give them support to deal with very serious issues,” she said. “Needless to say, children are being born while families are living in the community, and one way we can do our share is with this project.”


AC March 2017 | 17


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