ONEIDA — The holiday season was a bit brighter for some local residents in need thanks to members of Oneida American Legion Post 169.

Auxiliary President Penni Conley said the post, its board of directors, Sons of the American Legion chapter and auxiliary all worked together to support several community groups.

The Madison County Foster Children’s Program received bedding sets, sweatshirts, hairbrush sets, journals, socks and other items. This is the second year for this project, Conley said.

Their Fill Um Up Project benefited five families from two elementary schools in the Oneida school district. Conley said they worked with counselors from the schools, who gave them the sizes of families but confidentially with no names provided.

“This is to provide food to the families for the Christmas break, when the children are not in school and receiving lunches,” she explained.

They provided non-perishable food items such as snacks, juice, pudding, soup, ramen noodles, sauce, hot and cold cereal, crackers, peanut butter and jelly plus a ham, potatoes, a bag of apples, loaves of bread, eggs, a gallon of milk and lunch meat and other food items. In addition, they also donated laundry soap, dryer sheets, shampoo and conditioner, new toothbrushes and toothpaste, bath soap and other household items.

Boxes were picked up by school counselors and distributed prior to the school break. 

Their traditional Toys for Tots collection brought in donations of a large quantity of toys, books, games, dolls and other gift items along with a cash donation to that project. 

A Christmas raffle basket with wine, wine glasses, chocolate, Lotto tickets and other prizes was held with proceeds donated to a legion family member who is currently out of work.

“We do a different Christmas raffle basket every year,” Conley said. “Determination is made where proceeds should go based on where the need is.”

Meals were provided for an auxiliary member and her family to help while she recovers from a health emergency, Conley said.

Money was raised through a bake sale that was sponsored by the auxiliary the week of Thanksgiving. Auxiliary members provided homemade baked goods and sold them at the post’s Monday wing night with success.

They also received monetary donations for these projects from legion members and their families. There was a donation box in the social quarters, where they received non-perishable food items for the Fill Um Up Project.

“The outreach programs are so fulfilling, knowing you are part of a team that provides support to our communities,” said post Commander Jim Roberts. “We touch everyone in the community. We signed on to protect and serve while also giving our veterans the opportunity to connect with their communities.”

“It’s a very important part of legion history to help with the community when funds are available — and we are honored to be able to help,” added board President Steve Seelman.

These projects would not be successful without all of the Oneida Legion members working together, Conley said.

“The success of all of our projects, not just our holiday projects, is 100% dependent on volunteers. All of the volunteers should be recognized for their continued support to our community,” she said.