Ladies Auxiliary Luggage Drive a Great Success

The Ladies Auxiliary to Lititz Springs VFW Post 1463 is pleased to report the luggage drive at the AMBUCS Business Expo at the Lititz Rec on March 11 was a great success. The community donated 59 pieces of luggage for patients being discharged from Coatesville VA Medical Center.

AMBUCS provided a prime location at the Expo and we had many visitors at our booth where we offered pamphlets on Coatesville VAMC, the American flag, the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, information for veterans and child safety. Of course, we gave out buddy poppies and flags, and lots of candy! We also used this opportunity to seek out new members for the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary.

After the luggage was taken back to the Post and inspected, it was delivered to Coatesville VAMC several days later. Hospital representatives were eagerly awaiting our arrival and helped Commander Ellis and Shannon Henry, a volunteer from Fort Indiantown Gap, unload the suitcases (some of which contained donated clothing). Girl Scouts at the Expo donated two cartons of Girl Scout Cookies and those were delivered as well. We were thanked many times over for our efforts.

Special thanks go to Bonnie Tedrow, project coordinator; members of the Ladies Auxiliary who volunteered their time; Joel Ellis and Tom Tedrow for their assistance in all aspects of this event; AMBUCS for their generosity; Lititz Recreation Center for their kind assistance, especially Jennifer Henry; Shannon Henry for his assistance with transportation and luggage delivery. Thanks also to our community for remembering our veterans with their donations.

We plan to run this event again in several months as luggage is always needed at Coatesville VAMC. You may donate luggage any time by dropping it off at Lititz Springs VFW Post 1463.



Kathy Kenevan, Sue Ellis, Janet Getz.



Kathy Kenevan, Sue Ellis, project coordinator Bonnie Tedrow and Trish Breneman.



Trish is ready for anything while Bonnie chats.



Janet at the Ladies Auxiliary booth next to our ARC neighbors.



VA representative Warren Stackhouse, Joel Ellis, VA representative Lewis McCullough.



Joel, Lewis and volunteer Shannon Henry.



Shannon, Lewis and Joel.



The final collection ready to go.