FOUNTAIN — UPDATE:
VFW Post 6461 is closed through November 18, after a member tested positive for COVID-19.
But there are other locations where donations can still be dropped off.
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The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6461 in Fountain needs your help to feed veterans on Thanksgiving Day.
They're asking for donations so they can box up a Thanksgiving meal for veterans and families in need across the Fountain and Fort Carson area.
"We're veterans trying to take care of veterans so anything anyone else can do to help support us is greatly appreciated," said Steven Bustamante, Senior Vice Commander of Post 6461. "There's [sic] so many veterans that are in need, especially this time of year, so we just want as much support as we can get."
Right now, they could use non-perishable items, such as yams and gravy mix. Plus, monetary donations will be especially important to help them buy turkeys and hams closer to Thanksgiving. Usually, VFW 6461 provides between 30 and 40 Thanksgiving meals, but this year they're expecting that need to double due to COVID.
"A Thanksgiving meal here really can bring home family," Bustamante explained. "[Veterans] can sit down and go, 'We didn't have to stress out about a Thanksgiving meal.' It's all provided, everything they needed. It just brings warmth and joy to their hearts."
If you'd like to drop off donations, you can do so until November 18 at the VFW 6461 Post, either of the Camp Bow Wows in Fountain, and also the TREA Chapter `1 in Colorado Springs (located inside the Mission Trace Shopping Center).
VFW 6461 will be accepting monetary donations through November 23, and that's when volunteers will be packing up those meals. The goal is to have them ready to go on November 24, and deliver them by 8 p.m.
Any food that is leftover will go towards stocking their pantry, which they use year-round to provide meals for veterans in need.
