Legion Family Spearheads Thomas Fire Relief
Bryon Smith, Leslie Borchard and Jennifer Crandell loading supplies bound for Ventura County fire victims
By Jennifer Crandell
Executive Committee Member
Community Service Committee Chair
The other day I was blown away by the motivation and selflessness of two of our amazing new Legion family members.
On their own initiative, and awareness for a need, they pulled together a tangible-goods donation drive for the victims of the Thomas Fires in Ventura County.
They handled everything. From obtaining space from the post to be a collection point, to collecting donations, to coordinating with pop up agencies to receive the tangible donations (and ensuring that the donations being collected were actually fulfilling the needs of the Thomas Fire community), to loading up the 20 foot truck and driving it up to Ventura.
I can't tell you how blown away I am by Leslie Borchard of the Auxiliary and Legionnaire Bryon Smith of our Post 43 family.
They are too humble to announce what they've accomplished, but this is something tremendous that needs to be shared. A perfect example of the principles of what the American Legion stands to represent.
From Legion members like Luis Soto and Michelle Rivera collecting monetary donations to send to victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, to Leslie and Bryon taking on the huge ordeal of what they just accomplished: I am beyond proud to be a member of such a tremendous post, filled with altruistic members ready to step up to the plate. 💛
