Christmas in July provided by post to local family in need
American Legion Post 12 in Dothan, Ala., doesn’t have a building. But it has an American Legion Family, which is making an impact in its community.
Recently, that impact included a major boost to a single woman who had taken in her niece’s five children – all under age 6. The post’s Legion Family provided a Christmas in July that included gifts, food and catching the aunt up on both her rent and utilities.
“There’s always a need somewhere,” Post 12 Commander Lehman Irby said. “Christmas in July has been kind of a thing in this area. There are quite a few churches that do Christmas in July. So we decided in the post that we wanted to do something for a family and call it Christmas in July.”
Through two of its members – Post 12 First Vice Commander Troy Thomas and his wife, American Legion Unit 12 member Virginia Thomas – the post identified a local family with an immediate need: a single woman who recently had taken on raising her niece’s five children.
The post realized food was a priority and filled the woman’s pantry with non-perishable items, as well as donating perishable items such as ground beef, hot dogs and frozen chicken.
“It took three or four of us several trips to get all of that food into that house,” said Lehman’s wife, Unit 12 President Diane Irby. “We filled the living room, the coffee table, the couch with food.”
Cleaning and paper supplies also were included in the delivery, but that was only the start of the Post 12 Legion Family’s generosity. Post 56 paid to bring the aunt’s utility bill up to date and also was able to get a local VFW post to cover bringing the home’s rent current.
“And then we went Christmas shopping for the children,” Lehman said. “We bought clothes, toys, a whole bunch of stuff for each and every one of the five children.”
Diane said every present was special to the children. “When Christmas was delivered, each child got six bags. They weren’t small bags; they were the bigger bags,” she said. “And they were oohing and aahing over underwear and socks. It wasn’t just the toys. They’d never had anything like this. Socks and underwear – that’s what you get when you don’t believe in Santa. It’s stuff that you and I take for granted.
“These kids were so excited. They got shoes, they got outfits. One kid is a Spiderman fan, and he got Spiderman boxer shorts. Of course they got toys, but they oohed and aahed over everything.”
Thomas and his wife also paid for the aunt to become a member of Unit 12.
“I’m going to brag on this Post 12 Legion Family. We’ve got some generous, generous folks,” Diane said. “The gifts and the food came from the members. The (post) paid for her power bill and some diapers and stuff, but the rest of its came from our Legion Family members. They dipped into their own pockets.
“This post family, they are some givers. We’re very fortunate. For a post that doesn’t have a building, we’re getting it done.”
Lehman said the post hopes to plan a similar donation to a local family next year around the same time. And Diane is thankful for the chance to do so.
“It’s amazing that we had the opportunity to do this,” she said. “It’s amazing the opportunities we have to help and bless our veterans, the military and their families, and the community. This post family is working the mission.”