REDMOND, OR -- Over 60 families will spend the holidays with a loved one deployed with the National Guard unit based out of Redmond. Judith Burger is the Senior Vice Commander for the Redmond VFW: "We have service members who are in Afghanistan right now, and they’re families are left behind. And, they’re often times not able to make ends meet in between and we’ve got to look out for- make sure they’re families are looked after during the Christmas season, when it’s hard enough, to be separated but to know that your family member is in a conflict area and at risk."
Burger tells KBND, some National Guard families struggle to make ends meet while a parent or spouse is deployed. "Our post and Ladies’ Auxillary do Christmas baskets. So, we will have a 10 pound bag of potatoes, a whole ham, a whole turkey and all of the fixings. And, we also then include gift cards so the parents can buy gifts for all the kids. And, we have local service members who can’t make their rent or their electric bill is super high or they need wood or whatever, that we will actually help – case by case – do that."
This weekend, Redmond’s VFW will host its second annual Christmas Bazaar to support active-duty families, veterans and other community resource organizations. The bazaar is at the VFW hall on SW Veterans Way in Redmond, Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m until 5 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be available for purchase. Vendor booth fees benefit the VFW Relief Fund; silent auction benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Redmond/Terrebonne; raffle benefits FAN (Family Access Network); Breakfast benefits Vietnam Veterans War Memorial; lunch benefits the VFW Men's Auxillary. Donations for the silent auction will be accepted through Thursday afternoon.
Contact Tracy McKenzie for details: VFW4108.tracymckenzie@gmail.com
