Belleville Legion Hands Out Food, Clothes To Homeless At Train Station

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The American Legion Post 105 family of Belleville recently spent a Sunday morning handing out food, water, coats and treats to people experiencing homelessness.

The group – made up of the Legion’s veterans, American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) members, and Sons of the American Legion (SAL) – made a trip to Newark Penn Station last week, where people in need are known to gather in a nearby park, including families with children.

The night before the outreach event, the Post community – as well as young auxiliary members and young SAL’s – made 115 sandwiches, packed brown paper bags and put together clothes to hand out.

Some of the new-in-the-bag jackets were donated from American Legion Post 251 Montclair. Other food donations came from local community members.

When the Legion arrived at Peter Francisco Park – accompanied by a special guest, Santa Claus – they were greeted with “nothing but smiles,” its members reported.

It was an eye-opening experience for ALA Unit 105 Chaplain Jackie Elsmore, who said that the people she met “helped me more than I helped them.”

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