SPRINGDALE — A wide-eyed 6-year-old Jasmine Steed recently browsed the Barbie aisle of a local Walmart store eyeing possible Christmas gifts.
The trip was thanks to the generosity of a couple of local organizations. Jasmine’s family - including her brother Tyler, her mom Jessica and her dad Patrick - benefi ted from the efforts of the Raymond Alstott Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2952 and auxiliary.
The post participates in a “Santa shopping” project each year, allowing veterans and their families topurchase gifts and clothing.
Patrick Steed is a Marine Corps veteran who recently joined the Army National Guard. “The kids were going crazy,” he said of the Dec. 12 shopping experience. “I don’t know how I’m going to be able to say, ‘Thank you.’”
He spoke Tuesday as the family, post members and guests were dining on a special Christmas meal in the post’s meeting hall in Springdale. Dinner guests included some individuals from Decision Point, a local agency that provides alcohol and drug treatment services.
The post and auxiliary are organizations focused on service with an emphasis on aiding those who have served. The VFW’s mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans’ service, community service, national security and a strong national defense.
Steed said he was impressed by the enthusiasm for helping others, noting that the post is made up of people who have already served their country.
“That’s a real giving spirit right there,” he said.
Post Commander Randy L. George said the organization has approximately 300 members, including those who served in World War II and each conflict since then, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
Steed said the efforts modeled a strong commitment that he would like to be a part of. “I’ll be willing to give ... back,” he said.
George, the post commander, and Donna Geabhart, president of the auxiliary, pointed out that the money used to provide community services comes from proceeds of weekly bingo games.
“We really want the public to see that their money has gone to a good cause,” Geabhart said.
The post receives about $12,000 annually from bingo by selling the tickets. Those proceeds go to help pay costs associated with holding the bingo games and to cover other post costs, such as building utilities, insurance and taxes.
The auxiliary receives about $5,000 to $6,000 each year from the sale of food and concessions served during the games.
The post and auxiliary provide an array of community services.
George noted that bingo proceeds also go to fund scholarships. When Hurricane Katrina evacuees were brought to the area to stay at a Siloam Springs camp, the post gave money to veterans who were part ofthe group and had “no money at all,” George said.
Geabhart said the auxiliary has helped with backpacks for the homeless, collected canned goods and provided Thanksgiving and Christmas food to homebound individuals and given fruit to veterans at the Fayetteville Veterans Home.
The auxiliary also has participated in Make A Difference Day in October. The organization hosts the annual Voice of Democracy speech competition each year, and the post hosts the Patriot’s Pen essay contest.
Geabhart said she was raised with the idea of giving back and being committed to serve veterans and the community. Her father and stepfather are members of the post.
“I just have a great passion for my veterans,” she said. “It’s the least I can do.”AT A GLANCE AREA VFW POSTS Randy George of Springdale is District 1 Post Commander.
Post locations include:
Holiday Island, Holiday Island Park
Osage, Old Carrollton Lodge, 2918 CR 912
Carrollton, Old Carrollton Lodge, 2918 CR 912
Siloam Springs, 830 S. Lincoln St.
Combs, 198 Madison 4281
Fayetteville, 11084 Pearce Road, West Fork
Springdale, 1006 N. Thompson St.
Rogers, 11160 N. Old Wire Road
Lincoln, 114 W. Park St.
Bentonville, 101 Legion Lane
Berryville, 109 Bunch Springs Road
Pea Ridge, Davis and Macintosh streets, Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church
Bella Vista, 103 Veterans Way
Decatur, 9438 Browning Road
Huntsville, 4286 U.S. 412 East
West Fork, City Hall
Our Town, Pages 15 on 12/20/2009