VFW Post 8703, which serves the Artesia and Carlsbad areas, has announced the distribution of $20,000 to area charities during the Christmas season.
The VFW researched more than 100 different charities in Artesia, Carlsbad and Loving, paying special attention to well-run charities and those with specific needs.
“We went through the process of calling and verifying all charities before they were chosen to receive funds,” the VFW stated in a release.
The 156 members of the post then voted to arrive at a consensus. Among the local donations were $500 to Packs of Love, a charity that sends backpacks loaded with food and necessities home each weekend with children in need; and $1,000 to Artesia Emergency Relief.
VFW Post 8703 reports it raised more than $200,000 in 2015 and is now seeking input for future endeavors.
“If you are a combat veteran and not currently a member of our post, we want your input, and so does your community,” the release states. “Our community-at-large outreach will now be made public to assure those who support us are as well served by the combat veterans who are now home as when they were deployed.
“The VFW is a veterans-first organization, but it is not a veterans-only charity. For over 100 years, the pillars of your community have met monthly to safeguard those who need help the most. Our post is happy to be helping the charities in our home towns.”
With an overhead cost of less than 5 percent, 95 cents of every dollar goes directly to the charities benefitting from the VFW’s donations.
For more information on Post 8703, visit vfwpost8703.org.
