Dana Fogner
2020-2021 National "Buddy"® Poppy & VFW National Home for Children Ambassador
Five Ways to Raise Funds
Many Auxiliaries are unsure how to proceed with “Buddy”® Poppy drives and raising funds for the National Home as Covid-19 remains prevalent across the nation. I’ve received several SWAPs and would like to share them with you:
1. Send a letter to members requesting donations for the Post Relief Fund
VFW Post 10804 and its Auxiliary in Little River, South Carolina, worked together and sent letters to all Post and Auxiliary members requesting donations for the Relief Fund. The Auxiliary typed the letter, had it printed and addressed all the envelopes. The Post paid for the stamps. They mailed the donation request letter and their members were very generous in their support.
2. Include a “Buddy”® Poppy with Dues Notice Letter
VFW Auxiliary 775, Ottumwa, Iowa, included information about their “Buddy”® Poppy program, as well as a “Buddy”® Poppy, with their dues notices. They asked the members to make a donation and it’s working! Tip: Some of the poppies got smashed by the mailing machines, so they suggest using a padded envelope or wrapping the “Buddy”® Poppy in bubble wrap prior to mailing.
3. Rummage Sale “Buddy”® Poppy Distribution
VFW Auxiliary 9787 in South Paris, Maine, handed out “Buddy”® Poppies during their rummage sale. Members said the poppies were well received by the public and it gave them a chance to teach young people of their significance.
4. Host a Bakeless Cake Sale to Raise Funds for the VFW National Home
Send a letter to your members requesting donations for the VFW National Home. Ask that they donate the amount of money it costs for them to bake their favorite cake. It’s a win-win; the National Home receives funds and nobody gains weight! Our Auxiliary brought this idea up for several years and it kept getting voted down. This year when it was brought up, it passed and our members responded with donations. It really works! Try it!
5. Shop Online at Amazon Smile and Raise Funds for the VFW National Home
More than one million charities receive donations and have charity lists on AmazonSmile, including the VFW National Home for Children. When you shop at https://smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to your favorite charitable organization with no fees and no extra cost.
Feel free to use the above SWAPs in your Auxiliary and continue to share ideas with your Department Chairman.
