Belleville American Legion Rallies For Kids Who Need Transplants

BELLEVILLE, NJ — When two American Legion posts join forces, good things can happen.

The American Legion Families of Belleville Post 105 recently partnered with their peers at Anthony Wayne Post 174 to raise thousands of dollars for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) with back-to-back fundraising picnics.

According to a news release from Post 105:

“The genesis for the idea was when Steve Sangemino, Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Commander of Squadron 105 Belleville, SAL Detachment of NJ Children and Youth Commission Chairman Rusty Myers (also from 105), and Detachment COTA Chairman Greg Shaffer from Squadron 174 got together and talked about how we could do something together to benefit our kids. The two Post families have always been close, being about a half hour from one another – so doing a combined weekend to benefit COTA was a perfect idea.”

At each event, families who have gone through the transplant journey spoke to the attendees, so they can see what they are raising money for. It puts a face to the charity, showing the human impact of COTA’s good work, the legion said.

One child, Aliyah Latchman, who enjoyed playing and making new friends at the 105, went through a liver transplant herself.

“While the road to her recovery and transplant journey hasn’t been easy, COTA helped put us at ease with regards to the financial burden and I’m so happy they will be there for her throughout her life,” reflected her mother, Melissa.

“For more than 30 years, the American Legion Family in New Jersey has helped COTA kids from the Garden State,” said Rick Lofgren, president and CEO of COTA.

“Giving countless volunteer hours and more than $500,000 to help transplant kids and their families, I can think of no better way to continue more than a century of service to our nation that to help kids,” Lofgren said.

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