Season of Giving: Belleville Legion Kicks Off Holiday Charity Work

BELLEVILLE-NUTLEY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 105. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Squadron 105 began what is being called their “Season of Giving” in the beginning of November this year. From handing out checks to local charities which operate out of Belleville, to donations to national veterans as well as children and youth organizations, to hosting a huge all-out Toy and Clothes Drive, and ending with an annual raffle supporting the Fisher House Foundation, the Sons are doing their very best to spread the spirit of the holidays to our veterans and our kids.

Planning for the first donation began in September, at the Post 105 Picnic, with an annual cancer charity fundraiser. A member of the Sons, a cancer survivor himself, has passionately run this fundraiser for the past few years. Selling tickets ahead of time, plus soliciting donations, he and his wife handed out pink ribbons and buttons at the picnic to anyone who donated. Though the first two years of the fundraiser benefitted the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the American Cancer Society, starting in 2022 the squadron adopted Gail’s Angels as the foundation to donate to. Gail’s Angels is Belleville-based non-profit (501c)(3) organization dedicated to providing support to families that have a mom with breast cancer, who also care for an autistic or special needs child.

With donations above and beyond the funds raised made by the Squadron itself, plus the Post and its new Auxiliary Unit, a total of $2,273 was dropped off with the ‘big check’ to James Babai, president of Gail’s Angels and owner of Essex Cigar Lounge on Washington Avenue in Belleville.

“Your love and generosity will help our special families achieve the same dreams and desires we all share … “the people from 105 feel like family…., stated Babai.

At the following general meeting in November, the “Season of Giving” continued with the membership making $250 donations to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), the American Legion Children’s Welfare Foundation (CWF), and Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW). In supporting two of the Pillars of the American Legion – Children and Youth, and Veteran’s Affairs – SAL 105 chose those three organizations to highlight their commitment to our vets and our kids.

COTA helps – in providing 100% of its funds - to remove the financial barriers to a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support, working with families whose children and young adults are on a transplant journey. In the same vein was a donation to CWF – whose “philanthropic priority to contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of children and youth” by providing grants to other children based organizations has allowed upwards of $10 million dollars to make its way to helping kids. Lastly, OCW received a donation from 105, promoting their goal of helping provide veterans "nonessentials" - items that help wounded warriors' recovery but don't usually show up as a budget line on government spreadsheets. The Legion then contacts officials and obtains lists to determine which items are needed by wounded, injured or ill servicemembers; once a need is identified, the items are ordered by the Legion and delivered in an expeditious manner. “It's as simple as that. No red tape”, per the OCW.

Keeping the “Season of Giving” going, the SAL and Legion Family at 105 are managing a Toy and Clothing Drive, with the date to give things out being set for Thursday 14 December. Using funds raised nice their “Christmas in July” event, around $4,000 of toys and clothes have been ordered, with the goal of handing everything out on that December Thursday. We have also been accepting donations since then, and will be doing so until the 14th. Anyone in need, from anywhere, can drop by the Post that day, or let the SAL know their specific needs. Anything left over will be distributed to the needy in the community in the days and weeks afterward.

Rounding out our plans, we will be running a raffle to benefit the Fisher House Foundation, as we have for the past four years, giving them $6,000 to date. The Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veteran’s families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital, with homes are located at military and VA medical centers around the world. SAL 105 will begin accepting donations for tickets shortly after Thanksgiving, with the final drawing on Superbowl Sunday on 11 February. Inquire at the Post to find out how to participate.

So when you see us wearing our uniforms shaking cans and collecting money over the week of Veterans Day every year at the ShopRite, all of the above is in just one small part of how what we collect goes to doing good things. Last year, for example, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 105 donated almost $26,000 back to the Post’s veterans programs, to our kids, and to our community, state, and nation – in every way a product of the generosity of the Belleville Community. So that small American flag on a stick that we hand out asking for a small donation each year goes to changing lives – here at home, as well as throughout our country.

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