Cathey Farley
2022-2023 National “Buddy”® Poppy & VFW National Home Ambassador
A FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
VFW National Home:
Every Auxiliary can BECOME A HOME FRONT HERO for the National Home!
How to become a Home Front Hero: Your Auxiliary can take a leading role in the National Home’s mission by pledging to make a recurring monthly contribution to the National Home. Your Auxiliary will join other Auxiliaries on the front line of support, helping to provide a steady, reliable source of funding for the National Home’s essential programs and services.
- It’s eco-friendly. Save trees by switching from paper and will lay out a painless, automatic donations.
- It saves money. Save the cost of a stamp with every gift you make.
- You determine the amount of your monthly donation.
- Increase, decrease or suspend your gift at any time.
- Start today for as little as $10 a month.
How can your Auxiliary afford to commit to become a Home Front Hero?
Easier than you think. Below is a suggested plan that would allow your Auxiliary to send $25/month to the National Home without depleting your Relief Fund.
Beginning in August, plan a back-to-school fundraiser. Working with the Auxiliary Youth Program Chairman, sell pencils at your monthly meeting, Friday night dinners or simply display them in the canteen. Put a “Buddy”® Poppy on each pencil to promote the “Buddy”® Poppy Program at the same time. Remember, the funds raised by the distribution of poppies go to your Relief Fund; the fund can be used to support the National Home. By working with the Youth Chairman, you may find donors that will allow you to give the pencils out at a school. This is an idea for an easy project with a goal to raise $25.
September: Do you know who John Chapman was? Johnny Appleseed! Again, join forces with the Youth Chairman to share the story of Johnny Appleseed, the subject of one of many folk tales about the founding of our wonderful country. Invite a Scout troop to your Post to participate in making some caramel apples and selling them at the Post. Below is a simple recipe for caramel apples; use a “Buddy”® Poppy to secure a zip-close bag around each apple. Simple project with a goal to raise $25.
Easy Caramel Apples
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. + chilling Cook: 5 min. YIELD: 6 servings.
Ingredients
- 6 small Gala apples
- 6 wooden popsicle sticks
- 1 package (14 ounces) caramels, unwrapped
- 2 tablespoons water
Directions First remove stems and thoroughly wash and dry apples; insert pop sticks into tops. Line a baking sheet with parchment and grease the parchment; set aside. Second, place caramels and water in a small saucepan; cook and stir over medium-low heat 3-5 minutes or until smooth, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Dip each apple in caramel mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Place on prepared pan. Refrigerate until set.
The idea is to create a simple one-day fundraiser monthly to raise the money needed for your Auxiliary’s commitment or have one big fundraiser at the beginning of the year; goal $300. Put the money in your Relief Fund and set up automatic withdrawal. Bingo, your Auxiliary is a Home Front Hero.
More on the “Buddy”® Poppy:
“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.” – George W. Bush
Below are special days designated to honor veterans who have served. These days may include ceremonies, parades, placement of Flags, placement of wreaths and/or promotion of the “Buddy”® Poppy. The responsibility of honoring our veterans should not fall solely on the shoulders of the families; it is also the responsibility and duty of us all to remember their service and sacrifice
September:
- 11, 2022 – Patriot Day – An annual observance to remember and honor those who were injured or killed during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
- 16, 2022 – POW/MIA Recognition Day
- 18, 2022 – Air Force Birthday
- 25, 2022 – Gold Star Mother’s & Family’s Day – A day to honor the families of fallen servicemembers.
Each month, I would like to highlight an idea from a Department Chairman on how he/she promoted the “Buddy”® Poppy/National & National Home. This month, a shout goes out to the Department of Nebraska Chairman Cherie Averill. Her “lolly poppy” tree is a 4×4 wooden post, drilled to hold suckers, each one wrapped with a “Buddy”® Poppy. Use as a permanent decoration or on special occasions; the kids, regardless of their age, will love it. Thank you, Cherie, for a fun, creative idea to promote the “Buddy”® Poppy and raise funds for the National Home.
“It’s good to try new things. Otherwise, how would you know how much you liked your old things?”- Winnie the Pooh
Thank you for the many promotions I have received from you – keep them coming. You may be the next Department to be recognized for their creativity in promoting the National Home and “Buddy”® Poppy. Remember to put your name and Department on everything. Also, please let me know every month how many of your Auxiliaries have become Home Front Heroes. Our goal for the year is 100% of the Auxiliaries to be “a hero.” A special gift goes to each Department Chairman who reaches 100% Auxiliaries (in their Department) who are Home Front Heroes.
Remember, whenever you promote the “Buddy”® Poppy, you support the National Home through the Relief Fund, and whenever you promote the National Home, promote the “Buddy”® Poppy as a supporter of the National Home.
I am readily available to assist you anyway I can. You can always reach me via email: farleycwb@gmail.com