Auburn Student Veterans Association spread holiday cheer on the Tuskegee Campus
Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System or CAVHCS received a very hard-earned donation from the Auburn Student Veterans Association (ASVA) on Dec. 22 to help spread holiday cheer for Veterans who are in need of assistance.
“During our fundraiser, Operation Iron Ruck, we received canned goods, hygiene products through student Veterans from the University of Alabama and Auburn University to bring awareness to Veteran suicide, mental health and all the battles Veterans have during their transition out of the military,” said Vice President Operations Chief of Auburn Student Veterans Association Ricardo “Gunny” Garcia.
Operation Iron Ruck is a fundraiser which takes place each fall where students from Auburn University and the University of Alabama walk approximately 150 miles to the visiting team’s stadium.
“The march is completed in shifts and consists of rotations between marching, resting and supporting. Each shift lasts the time it takes the current marching shift to complete the approximately 7 miles (around 2.5 hours). Participants carry a 22-pound rucksack to coincide with the ‘Mission 22 suicide campaign’. The ruck will consist of toiletries, undergarments and other items collected by the athletics and Veteran’s organization departments to be donated to local Veteran organizations,” Garcia added.
Bringing a smile to the face of a Veteran who may need a little help this holiday season is significant in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we want everyone to be safe, it is important to give back to your community. Many Veterans struggle during the transition out of the military. Kind gestures such as donations give them hope during difficult times.
“Giving back to Veterans is what ASVA is all about. It means a lot to me being a fellow Veteran and I know a lot of Veterans who are struggling personally. I can’t reach everyone, but I want to reach the people in our community that we can help and give back,” said Clayton Buchanan, ASVA president.
“Donations to Veterans mean a lot to me. Giving back to our local community and Tuskegee being 20 minutes away is one of the reasons we chose to come here. These goods traveled in our rucksacks from Tuscaloosa to Auburn, so it was good to see them reach the final destination, especially during the holiday season,” said Joshua Marshall, philanthropy chair for ASVA.