Donated holiday dinners for Ozark Veterans

Donations provided holiday dinners for 105 Veterans and their families.

The holiday season looks very different this year. But that’s not stopping the community from supporting the Veterans who receive their care at Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks.

On Dec. 11, the 8th annual holiday social received its holiday dinner boxes in a socially distanced manner. The event is for Veterans who are in the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Administrative Support Housing (HUD/VASH) and Homeless Programs.

Veterans drove up to the clinic and staff loaded the items into their vehicles. Staff delivered the holiday dinner boxes to Veterans who were unable to visit the clinic due to transportation or other issues.

Elks and local partners provided the food

The Springdale/Fayetteville Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) provided holiday dinner boxes. The boxes included bread, flour, potatoes, gravy and eggs. They also included turkey, cornbread mix, sugar, canned vegetables, instant mashed potatoes, milk, French onion dip and chicken fritters.

BPOE was able to partner with Tyson Foods, Cargill, Harps Food Store, Hiland Dairy, Schmieding Produce, Roy’s Trailer, and Boy Scout Troop 142 to provide the food for the holiday dinner boxes. These holiday dinner boxes helped 105 Veterans and their families.

In appreciation of the sacrifice they made

Veterans also received comfort bags from the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Unit 3. Items in the bag included shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, shaving gel, laundry detergent, dish soap and socks. If a Veteran and their family were in need, they were also provided a laundry basket with cleaning supplies and toiletries.

“We are honored to serve our Veterans with the support of our community partners,” said Brian McAnally, program manager. “This yearly event is in appreciation of the sacrifice they made for our country. It is the least we can do to provide a Happy Holiday for them and their families.”

Crystal L. Davis is the public affairs officer for the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks.