By Josh Troy
Clarksdale Advocate
“Operation – Regift for Veterans’ Families” is an opportunity to provide Christmas gifts to veterans’ family members throughout the world. Mary Jo Abraham, President of Clarksdale’s American Legion Auxiliary, Cooper Yerger Unit 28, and Representative for the Department of Mississippi, American Legion Auxiliary, Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford, with Alice Barbieri assisting as Deputy, is collecting new and unused items. Gifts can include household items but should not be breakable, perishable, or liquid.
The American Legion Auxiliary will collect all donations and create a gift shop at the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford. Residents will select up to three gifts to be shipped to their family members. The American Legion Auxiliary will gift-wrap the items, place them in a box, and mail them to the families, covering the postage cost. Gifts should also be lightweight to save on shipping costs. Donors are asked to keep the boxes they initially received the gift in, as these will be used to ship gifts to veterans’ families.
“This is a great opportunity for you to pass on gifts that you have received but do not want. That’s why it’s called ‘Operation – Regift for Veterans’ Families.’ It’s a win-win situation: you pass on unwanted gifts and, in turn, make a memorable Christmas for our veterans and their families.”
“Operation – Regift for Veterans’ Families” started in 2016 and continued through 2019. This is the first year since the COVID pandemic that the American Legion Auxiliary has undertaken the “Operation – Regift for Veterans’ Families” project. Abraham mentioned that students, Boy Scouts, and members of other organizations needing community service hours could participate in “Operation – Regift for Veterans’ Families.”
“You extend a gesture of kindness,” she said. “You pay forward a charitable act, but most importantly, you give back to our veterans and their families.”
Some schools and churches are serving as drop-off locations for gifts. If one’s school or church is not collecting gifts, they can be dropped off at the Sound Center or Carnegie Public Library in Clarksdale. The deadline to drop off gifts is November 28. Residents at the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Oxford will pick gifts to send to their families on December 2.
Financial donations are also appreciated and can be sent to Alice Barbieri, 450 Roberson Road, Lyon, MS, 38645. Anyone needing more information may contact Abraham at (662) 902-6904 or appleaday8@bellsouth.net.
