LAHARPE The LaHarpe Veterans of Foreign Wars post will host a picnic for area veterans and their families Sept. 22.
Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be served at lunch, while a number of kids games and other activities will be set up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the VFW post, on the east edge of LaHarpe on U.S. 54.
The event is part of VFWs recent outreach campaign, Post Commander Doug Northcutt said.
Were trying to do stuff like this for the community to let the veterans know were still here, Northcutt said. We just never had any money to do something like this before.
However, the VFW has once again resumed weekly bingo games at the post each Friday evening, which has generated sufficient revenue to host activities for veterans and their families.
Northcutt makes a point of reaching out to any and all veterans he sees around town.
The campaign has worked. In the past month, the VFW has gained seven new members, including one who formerly worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Such a member is invaluable to the VFW to help point members in the right direction on such topics as health care benefits, Northcutt noted.
The LaHarpe VFW meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.
