8/15/2022 9:00:00 AM
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) was honored to accept a very generous donation of $50,000 from the American Legion - Minnesota Chapter to be used for recreational programming at the five current State Veterans Homes. The presentation was made to MDVA Public Affairs, Development and Community Engagement leaders on July 15 at the American Legion (AL) annual convention; approximately 200 Legionnaires were in attendance.
This significant donation was rooted in the fundraising work of Past Department Commander (and current Adjutant for Waite Park American Legion Post 428) Tom Fernlund’s 2021-2022 Commander’s Project. Each year, the AL Commander is given the opportunity to raise funds for a project that they are passionate about. The Commander’s Project helps bring recognition to needs that exist in the community for Veterans and their families. The COVID-19 pandemic inspired Tom to select recreational programming as his project’s focus.
“During Covid, I thought about our Veterans in the Veterans Homes being isolated and not getting out for recreation, not having visits from their families or volunteers from our Veterans Service Organizations,” said Fernlund. “I remember when my mom spent a couple of years in a (non-Veteran) nursing home and when we visited, my son would play the piano. There were many smiles and happy reactions to the entertainment, something that helped to break up a person’s daily routine. So, I believe having activities, being able to visit local community events or participate in outdoor programs increases our quality of life.”
Through individual contributions and AL - Minnesota Chapter Post revenue raised from hosting various social events, Fernlund and his American Legion members raised $10,000 for each Home: Fergus Falls, Hastings, Luverne, Minneapolis and Silver Bay.
Two of the Minnesota Veterans Homes campuses already have ideas on how they’ll be expanding existing services or creating new programming to improve the lives of Veterans and their families.
According to Gary Harris, Development and Public Affairs - Fergus Falls Veterans Home, up to $5,000 of their $10,000 donation may be used to support a program for art supplies and instruction through the Lake Region Arts Council or community visits to local pottery or stained-glass artisans for a six-week class. The results of a July Resident survey will guide their Resident Arts Program and jumpstart classes in four categories: Fine Arts, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Decorative Arts, possibly including an Artist in Residency program.
The other half of the AL gift will go toward general recreation programming, helping to fund more than 250 outings and special activities during the year including fishing trips, Veterans Camp in Ely, MN, shopping trips, ice cream socials, special music and entertainment, gardening, golf cart and van rides, the Fargo Air Show, weekly bingo, American Legion-sponsored rib dinners, zoo trips, local youth baseball games, card and dice games, trivia, the Daily Rag Newspaper, WWII and Vietnam Support Groups and Chair Chi.
Cheryl Garrison, Public Affairs Director - Minneapolis Veterans Home, shares that their $10,000 donation toward recreational funding will be applied to offering a greater number of visiting artists and entertainers, hosting additional barbecues, scheduling pizza parties and dine-in lunches featuring foods from their favorite neighborhood restaurants, sponsoring popular communal games such as blackjack, Pokeno and bingo and covering the costs for those supplies and winner payouts, providing animal therapy services such as Loveable Llamas and Bunny Extravaganza petting zoos, and creating an onsite, weeklong Minnesota State Fair-themed event with State Fair-inspired lunches each day, traditional Fair treats, games and a concert.
Once again, thanks and gratitude to the American Legion - Minnesota Chapter for their major donation to help expand recreational resources within the Minnesota Veterans Homes and connect Veterans and their families to more activities within their respective communities.
