RALEIGH, NC (08/16/2010)(readMedia)-- A local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post supported North Carolina National Guard Family Programs by providing much needed support to Soldiers and their families.

VFW Post 10001, located in Raleigh, N.C., recently received a charitable donation of $10,000 from Lowes Foods Corporation at the N.C. National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters on July 30.

The donation provides Soldiers and their families with groceries that can be purchased with gift certificates in local Raleigh-area Lowes Foods grocery stores.

The idea for the venture came when a VFW member read a newspaper article about veterans and their struggles almost two years ago.

"I read an article about veterans living off of food stamps and that was a disgrace," said Thomas R. Skidmore, a Trustee of VFW Post 10001.

Since reading that article, on behalf of Post 10001, Skidmore started contacting local businesses that could offer a wide variety of services in the way of donations to the cause.

Skidmore made his first donation of 200 Uplink long-distance calling cards to National Guard Family Programs in 2008. The calling cards were issued to deploying Soldiers through Family Programs so that they could keep in contact with families and loved ones.

From there, Skidmore sent a proposal to Food Lion in late 2009. For his efforts, Food Lion awarded him $5,000 worth of gift certificates to be used in the store.

Skidmore says that because the cards can only be used in the stores, it's a win-win situation for the companies, because it ensures their charitable donations are used in their businesses.

"Tom Skidmore and the [VFW] post have been very generous, and wanted to do something to help service members," said Diane Coffill, Director of State Family Programs for the North Carolina National Guard.

Coffill said that the recent grocery card donations evolved from Post 10001 over the last two and a half years by providing assistance such as Christmas-time gift cards for families.

"We in the Guard cannot go out and solicit and ask for donations. So having partners like the VFW who can, who want to, and who are willing to do so is a God send," said Coffill.

Skidmore says that Post 10001 has always done their best to help support the troops. Whether it is the children's home in western North Carolina, or contributing money to widows of veterans, the VFW has actively searched for ways to assist Soldiers and their families.

These charitable contributions were organized in a joint effort with Guard Family Programs and representative Family Assistance Centers [FAC's] in order to help Soldiers and their families with important food and grocery items.

Coffill also believes that these goods and services are making a difference for some families who might otherwise not be able to make ends meet on their family budgets.

Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram, Jr., North Carolina Army National Guard State Adjutant General, is a huge supporter of the joint campaign between Family Programs and VFW Post 10001. He awarded Skidmore with "The State Adjutant General's Coin" for his support of the North Carolina National Guard and their families.

Almost 400 families have benefited from the efforts of Post 10001 and Family Programs.

Coffill says that for those who need assistance, they need only to maintain contact with their respective unit Family Readiness Groups [FRG]. By continually updating unit FRG leadership, they can help to coordinate directly with Family Assistance Centers, and get the support out to those that need it.

In the event families can't contact their FRGs, they can always speak directly to their Regional FAC, assured Coffill.

FAC's can also help families apply for "Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund" [SAAF] grants that provide up to $1,000 of relief. The grant is a one-time payment that covers events beyond the control of the Guard or family member that requires assistance that is not available from any other reasonable source.

"It is a wonderful feeling to know that if we have a service member in need, we have an immediate way to assist them," said Coffill.

Coffill says her organization gets it's satisfaction from the families that come in, seek out the support, and leave knowing that they will be able to put food on the table, and provide additional necessities for their children.

"They still may have issues, but they walked out of an office from the Guard, and the Guard is taking care of their own," Coffill said.

Coffill also added that the Guard could not do it without organizations like the VFW and businesses like Lowes Foods providing things for our service members that the National Guard cannot provide for itself.

Skidmore said Post 10001 will continue to send out proposals to local businesses seeking their assistance and that when Family Programs needs the money, all they need to do is call, and the VFW will be able to help them provide for the families that need help.

By Army Capt. Rick Scoggins and photos by Spc. Miko Holloran, North Carolina National Guard Public Affairs

Posted Monday August 16, 2010 at 04:00 pm by North Carolina National Guard
Last Updated Thursday August 26, 2010 at 03:19 pm