American Legion Post 31 kicking off annual drive for veterans

It is an uncomfortable truth that sometimes men and women who served this country, as they grow older and lose loved ones, become forgotten.

Veterans who end up in nursing homes or hospice care don’t always have someone to come check up on them or celebrate holidays.

That is where groups like the American Legion post 31 in Tuscumbia come in. Each year, Post 31 requests donations and puts together gift bags for a number of veterans in Colbert and surrounding counties.

Some bags are given out over the course of the year, but most are passed out during Christmastime. Post 31 Commander Doug Hargett said the gift bag program started with a previous post commander four years ago as a way to help remind these veterans they are not forgotten and to help brighten their day.

“That first year we were able to give 85 gift bags,” Hargett said. “The next year I asked at Veterans Day if we could get the number to 100, and we did 124. Last year, some sponsors (like the Shoals Elks Lodge and corporate groups) came on and we were able to hand out 247 bags.”

Despite the growing number of bags put together, Hargett said there are still many more veterans he hopes get covered by the program.

The drive now gifts veterans in Colbert, Lauderdale, Franklin and Lawrence counties.

“The public is invited and requested to help again this year with this worthwhile project, one that has brought comfort and caring to veterans who might not otherwise receive gifts from family and loved ones,” said the Post in a release.

Hargett said some of the most requested items are men’s white socks size adult 8-12 and men’s white T-shirts size XL.

“Some people throw in snacks, but some veterans are diabetic, so things like crackers work. We also add in things like shampoo, shaving cream and similar items, a lot of which can be found at the dollar store,” he said. “These items can be dropped off at the Emily Cooper Art Studio (108 N Main St. Tuscumbia) Tuesday through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.”

Hargett said when the program started, the COVID-19 pandemic kept Post 31 members from being able to personally deliver gift bags, but he said nurses described those receiving them acting like “children at Christmas opening presents.”

For further information or to speak to someone about additional ways to help, call Post Commander Doug Hargett at 256-483-0610.