Once again, I must put on my Maine Veterans in Need hat. February is the big fundraising month for MVN that started with the generosity of our Hannaford store and their Bloomin’ 4 Good Program. During the month of February (and remember Valentine's Day is Saturday), $1 is donated to MVN for every flower bouquet sold that has a red circle sticker on it. You get a “twofer” with a purchase, a smile when you get home and you support another veteran who needs help. 

The next fundraising event was last Friday morning at BIW. Post 202 and MVN volunteers manned the gates at BIW at 5:30, braving 5-degree temperatures, to collect donations from the BIW workers. BIW workers, besides being part of the “Bath Built, Best Built” shipbuilders, are also the most generous. They stopped by our little stand, took their gloves off (and that was truly dedication) and reached for their wallets. They added a “thank you for your service” and “thank you for what you do.”

The next fundraising effort was, again, the Post 202 and MVN volunteers at the two doors at Shaw’s in Brunswick all day Saturday and Sunday. Again, the temperature was frigid! But folks stopped and expressed thanks for the work Post 202 and MVN does in addressing the homeless veteran issue and making generous donations.

The big event is this coming Saturday, Feb. 14, Valentine's Day! It is the Post 202 Winter Classic where 12 teams engage in a softball tournament at the Post 202 Hall in Topsham in what is expected to be at least 12 inches of snow on the ball field! Each team makes a $200 donation, and many organizations in Maine pay $500 to sponsor the event, some donating much more. The tournament starts at 9 a.m. and lasts all day with the final game ending just before dark. It is worth the trip to spend even 30 minutes to see these hearty players trudge through the snow to find the ball buried in snow. Some of these teams (most in fact) have never played as a team before this event. To say it is hilarious to watch is an understatement. Inside the Legion Hall there are 19 organizations that support veterans providing information on their programs. The VA healthcare and benefits will be there, as will the Maine Bureau of Veterans services.  Other organizations such as Honor Flight Maine, Easter Seals/Veterans Forward, Vet Centers, Martins Point, Red Cross, the VFW, American Legion, DAV, Maine V.E.T.S. and many others will all be there. 

The efforts of Post 202 in supporting homeless veterans are critically important. In rough numbers, there are 145 homeless veterans in Maine, with 30 unsheltered. MVN averages between 25-30 veterans who are homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless a month seeking help. To get them immediately out of the elements, until the “system” can find shelters, is the mission of MVN.  Visit https://maineveteransinneed.org to learn more about what we do and how we do it.