American Legion seeks volunteers to deliver holiday meals

Every year, the American Legion Post 16 seeks volunteers to help prepare, package and deliver Thanksgiving meals to the area’s senior citizens, said Paul “Pip” Valentin, coordinator of the holiday meals program.

“Do you have any extra time this holiday to join us in spreading this joy?” Valentin asked.

Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, Valentin said residents and the military personnel enjoy helping the seniors. He said about dozen volunteers, many of them from NAS Fallon, helped with the 2022 Thanksgiving meals.

Valentin said many of the volunteers include local residents and both retired and active duty military personnel and their families. Twice a year, he said the volunteers assist the William N. Pennington Life Center by delivering meals to the county’s elderly population who either live within the city limits or reside in the county.

Volunteers are needed between 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Valentin said volunteers who wish to sign up as volunteers should contact him at paul.valentin470@gmail.com. Volunteers who have helped in previous years have included school teachers, community leaders, ranchers and business owners or employees.

Volunteers delivered 130 meals to the seniors last year and another 92 dinners for residents who decided to dine in at the American Legion. Every year Valentin said he must have enough divers to deliver the meals.

In 2022, Valentin said he divided the deliveries into 17 routes. He said the city routes usually have more meals to deliver because of the shorter distances, while the county routes that require more travel times had fewer meals for volunteers to give to their seniors.

Valentin added many volunteers who assist at Thanksgiving also return to help at Christmas. During previous Thanksgiving meals preparation, sailors who volunteered said NAS Fallon encourages them to help the community.

The American Legion Post 16 is located at 90 N. Ada St.