Some gave cans and some gave pennies. Yet, in the end, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5578 members were able to provide a near-record number of food baskets to needy families in the area.

“Some of the local schools, like Ramage Elementary, had can food drives and some schools collected and gave us pennies. This one class gave us more than one hundred dollars in pennies and we had to roll them,” VFW Post Commander Terry Burdette said with a smile.

The acknowledgement that area children and their parents were generous in giving to the VFW Post 5578 for their annual food basket drive put smiles on many of the volunteer VFW members gathered at the Post.

VFW Post Commander Terry Burdette said he and his fellow veterans looked forward to the food basket drive every year. “It keeps us busy,” he said, pointing to a spreadsheet that the VFW veterans have constructed on their computer to monitor just how many baskets have been created and delivered.

“It also helps us make sure everyone who is suppose to get one, does,” he said. “It looks like we’ve given out close to 700 baskets so far,” WVF Post Commander Terry Burdette told the Coal Valley News.

The VFW Post 5578, located next to the Madison Civic Center, was jam-packed with food- stacked, boxed, and everyone in between.

This year’s food baskets include items such as a three-pound ham, bread,8-pounds of potatoes, green beans, corn, peas, peanut butter and jelly, apples, oranges, nuts and a cake with icing, VFW Commander Burdette said.

The baskets were scheduled to be distributed starting Monday and ending this week.

With the help of more than 20 volunteers each day, the baskets were bundled and delivered starting Monday, Dec. 22.

“On Monday, including the Ladies Auxhiliary members, we had 29 volunteers, then 27 on Tuesday, and 21 on Wednesday,” Burdette said.

“We have been doing this since 1954,” Burdette said. “I’m sure you have seen boxes out at grocery stores collecting food items..”

According to Burdette, if it weren’t for the businesses and individuals who make donations, the VFW would not be able to provide area residents with the food baskets each year.

Local Boy Scouts of America troops 131, 85, 289, and 392 were joined by volunteers from Girl Scout troop 2573, 4-H and American Heritage to help VFW members with loading and packing the baskets.

Contact Joanie Newman at jnewman@coalvalleynews.com or call 304-369-1165.