Every year, Bristow’s American Legion Post 126 presents Christmas food baskets and gifts to veterans’ families. The charitable operation is also made possible by the generous donations and cooperative efforts of the Legion’s branched organizations, the Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary, and local merchants. Baskets and gifts were distributed to families last Saturday, December 14.
Legionnaire John Bloxom noted that Bristow’s Legion organizations presented 22 veterans’ families with food baskets this Christmas season. Upon receiving financial and goods donations and making additional purchases, organization volunteers filled each food basket with enough food and traditional holiday meal trimmings to feed a family of four. Each food basket contained a 12-pound turkey, 3 cans each of corn and green beans, dressing mix, gravy, instant potatoes as well as a 5pound bag of potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie, and cool whip. For veterans’ families with children, gifts were also provided.
Bloxom stated that 5 of the 22 families, who received food baskets, received children’s gifts with their baskets. Gifts have often included size and age-appropriate clothing and some toys. This year, for example, a family with a 2-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy received complete clothing sets of pants and tops, pajamas, and jackets for the children. Likewise, another family with four children, including a 16-year-old girl, 12-year-old boy, 10-year-old girl, and 3-year-old boy also received completed clothing sets, pajamas, and jackets for each of the children in addition to the food basket.
Furthermore, youngsters also contributed to food basket disbursements. Bloxom confirmed that 2 young men, Mason Thurman’s sons, ran from the line to the freezer, retrieving turkeys and rolls for inclusion into the baskets.
Regarding those donations made by local merchants and individuals, Bloxom expressed gratitude for their generosity in supporting veterans and their families this holiday season. Williams Foods and Walmart discounted and donated food items for the food baskets; moreover, Bloxom noted that as members wheeled shopping carts filled with turkeys to the registers for purchase, one man surprised the group by spontaneously paying for all of the turkeys after learning why they were being purchased. Additionally, another man purchased 44 pumpkin pies in support of the organizations’ efforts to support veterans and their families this Christmas. Local merchants also donated money toward the purchase of food items and gifts.
Bloxom stated that the Legion strives to support veterans, their families, and their communities. In fulfilling their holiday food basket and gift operation, Legionnaires met all 3 of those goals.
For more information, contact Bloxom at (918) 683-5192 or Vane Bell at (918) 231-1162. Interested parties may also speak with members or inquire about joining at monthly meetings. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the second Monday evening of each month at the American Legion at 131 West 8th Avenue.