American Legion Riders Chapter 80, St. Cloud FL

  The following article from St. Cloud in the News best tells the story of our journey to Give2theTroops May 2010.

 Veterans 4 Veterans

Part 1 – Golf clubs and golf balls

A two part series on the Give2The Troops Mother’s Day Ride

By Chris Falkowski, Managing Editor-St. Cloud In The News

On a long weekend, May 7 through May 10, 2010, my husband and I had the opportunity to participate in an emotional and uplifting event – The Veterans 4 Veterans Motorcycle Miles For Money Mother’s Day Run to benefit an amazing organization, the North Carolina branch of Give2TheTroops

It all started with two sets of used golf clubs and some golf balls. Marie and Walt Eatman, members of the American Legion Post 80 in St. Cloud and American Legion Riders Chapter 80, were cleaning out the garage and had two sets of golf clubs that they didn’t need any more.  Marie was hard-pressed to just throw out the old golf clubs, since they were still quite good, but she remembered reading somewhere that U.S. troops serving in Iraq needed items for R & R (Rest & Relaxation).  Marie went on-line and started researching how to donate the two sets of golf clubs to U. S. soldiers serving overseas. 

Marie found the website for Give2TheTroops and was fascinated by the all-volunteer organization.  The North Carolina branch was the only location that had a warehouse and could accept pallets of donations and could ship large packages with the government’s blessing. 

Walt and Marie then brought the news to the next American Legion Riders meeting, thinking that perhaps other ‘Riders’ and Legionnaires could donate golf clubs, golf balls and other recreational items. 

“Everyone liked the idea and the next thing I knew, the golf balls were multiplying like rabbits, rolling out of our little office at the Post,” Marie said laughing.  “Sandman [Walt’s Rider name] and I made our first trip to Greenville [North Carolina] in November of 2008 and didn’t know what to expect.” 

“We drove up to Greenville in one day and when we arrived we were so impressed.  We met Barbara Whitehead, the Executive Director for Give2TheTroops, and toured the warehouse that was, and still is, donated.  Everyone there was a volunteer – no one was paid - and they worked to prepare ‘care packages’ and then shipped them to our soldiers overseas.  Barbara started to tell us about all the young men that she had contact with and ‘Sandman’ had to leave three times because he was almost in tears,” Marie continued. 

“Barbara and the organization are really good at getting donations from major corporations for personal care products and snacks, but we realized that what Give2TheTroops really needed was money to pay the shipping costs,” she said.  “The personal stories that Barbara shared with us about our military personnel on duty in combat zones really struck home (‘Sandman’ is a Vietnam veteran) and we talked all the way back to St. Cloud about what the Legion Riders could do to help,” said Marie. 

At the next meeting of the American Legion Riders ‘Sandman’ and Marie shared their experience and the group and the Post started working on fund-raising.  Pool parties, car washes, poker runs, information booths and raffles had a two-fold benefit – the Legion Riders got out into the community and the community and Central Florida was most generous in their donations to help.

Phil Bergelt, Commander of the American Legion Post 80 in St. Cloud said "It's been a really great way for the Riders and the Post to get the message out about what the American Legion is really all about-helping veterans."

 For the past year, plans for a 1,400+ miles benefit ride by the Legion Riders have been put into action.  The Post 80 Riders spent months acquiring prizes and selling raffle tickets.  They travelled throughout Central Florida to other American Legion Posts and Rider Chapter spreading the word.   Motorcycle poker runs were held; recruitment events and informational displays were made, and always with the goal of helping show support for all branches of the military serving U. S. interests abroad. 

American Legion Posts in other states were contacted or heard of the Mother’s Day Ride for Give2TheTroops and joined the effort.  Meanwhile, Barbara Whitehead and her volunteer staff continued to collect, package and ship care packages to troops around the world.  Ultimately, the cost for postage for 2009/2010 would reach $76,000 and the coffers are always low.  

It’s no easy task to plan and conduct a 1,400+ mile group motorcycle ride, and harder when additional motorcycles from other locations will join the group along the route.  The planning meetings and safety considerations, along with contacting the various state and local law enforcement agencies was a daunting task. 

Experience was an excellent teacher, when the Chapter 80 American Legion Riders made the trip to Greenville in 2009.  Considerations for heat injuries, accidents and staging proved to be lessons-learned, but for the 2010 Mother’s Day Ride, the group was ready. 

Volunteers offered their time, vehicles and fuel expense to provide “chase vehicles” – following the group to provide assistance in the form of water, Gatorade, sandwiches, snacks, tools, and if needed, a trailer to stow any motorcycle that might breakdown.  Daily miles to be ridden had to be planned, fuel stops planned, hotel rooms had to be booked, donations for beverages sought and picked up, coordination with other Legion Rider groups confirmed and a myriad of other necessary steps had to be worked out. 

While all of these things were being worked on, there was also the urgent need to raise funds for Give2TheTroops.  Not an easy task during economic ‘hard times’, until Charles Eggers, Guitars for Charity came to the rescue.  Through his connections with music greats, Charles asked and received autographed guitars from Willie Nelson and Edgar Winters that he donated to the Legion Riders for raffle .                                      

Give2TheTroops is a non-partisan, non-political, patriotic organization aimed at supporting U. S. deployed and wounded troops in harm’s way.  We are managed by patriotic volunteers who ensure that deployed U. S. military members in all branches of service are supported with letters and care packages.  Founded by a U. S. Marine wife in December of 2002 when her husband was deployed for a year with Operation Iraqi Freedom, the organization grew rapidly as more people wanted to show their support for our troops.  Give2TheTroops is incorporated and certified as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-political, non-partisan organization.  Their mission statement reads:  “To support the physical, moral, and spiritual health of America’s armed forces in combat zones around the world through the letters and packages prepared and shipped by caring volunteers.”  Their motto is:  “Give Back to Those Who Give All.”™