Veterans Receive Holiday Support at Auxiliary Event

Held at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System's multipurpose center, the American Legion Auxiliary Gift Shop provided Veterans with the opportunity to select up to five free items to assist with holiday shopping.

The Auxiliary transformed the center into a festive space filled with donated goods, including everything from jackets and boots to board games and action figures. The goal was to ensure that Veterans had access to gifts for their loved ones and items for themselves during the holiday season.

“I’ve done this for more years than I want to count; it’s the start to my Christmas,” said Cary Fisher, the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Utah executive director. “This is our big project for the year and it’s our mission. We are founded for the Veterans and their families.”

The event not only provided tangible support but fostered a sense of community and holiday spirit among attendees during what can be a challenging time of year.

“The American Legion Auxiliary gift shop is a wonderful opportunity for the community to show up and provide assistance to Veterans who need a little help this holiday season,” said Sarah Hallen, service chief for The Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. “Veterans really look forward to this. CDCE receives phone calls every year as early as September asking if the gift shop is coming back to our facility.”

“I appreciated it,” said Jason Foerster, who served in the Army from 1996 to 2005. “Right now, my budget is really tight and in times like this, this feels really good.”

While the main purpose of the event was to help Veterans get gifts for their loved ones, they were also encouraged to get a gift for themselves as well.

“I came here more for my kids, but they said ‘you gotta get something for yourself,’ and it is always hard to do something for me,” Foerster continued. “I greatly appreciate it.”

“We want to make sure that they have a Christmas as well as picking out gifts for people they may have otherwise not been able to get a gift for without this event,” said Fisher.

According to organizers, around 185 Veterans in need were able to attend, and more than 925 items were distributed for Veterans and their families. The donations were sourced from businesses, schools and individuals, showcasing the generosity of the Salt Lake City community.

This event started during the holiday season approximately 80 years ago and has grown significantly during that time.

“We love being here at the VA,” Fisher said. “When this all started, it was just carts that went up to the wards with patients who couldn’t get out to do their shopping.”

For more information on how to contribute to initiatives like this, visit https://www.va.gov/salt-lake-city-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/ to volunteer with the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System or https://www.aladeptutah.org to find out more about donating to the American Legion Auxiliary.