Question by macaw_mom: What businesses would most likely give donations for veterans organizations?
American Legion Riders Post 574 members are energized to help their fellow veterans. They are enthusiastic and have plenty of spirit. We are hosting the American Legion Post 574 6th Annual Poker Run, Saturday, August 7, 2010. Unfortunately, our riders leave their meetings each month knowing there’s a local children’s hospital, a school, a veteran’s home, a severely wounded service member or our Legacy Scholarship Fund (established to provide scholarships to children of U.S. military personnel killed since Sept. 11, 2001) out there deprived of critical tools for their existence.

Each Rider’s event helps support each of these causes with some critical portion of their existence, but our event’s can’t be successful without the community’s help and the resources for these programs are too important to go unfunded. Will you help us meet our goals of providing funding to these programs?
There are several levels to this giving opportunity and we appreciate your support. We will recognize your gift with recognition in our newsletters and website, along with a card attached to any physical item donated.
-Donation of a physical item to be used in auctions or raffles
-Sponsorship in an event for food, beverage, decorations, gifts, awards, etc.
-Monetary donation
True to the Legion’s grassroots tradition, each chapter manages its programs at the post level, where the best ideas are born. The Riders are part of many projects and events, including:
•Rolling Thunder, the annual POW/MIA rally in Washington on Memorial Day weekend.
•Annual regional rides such as Operation Wounded Warrior, sponsored by Riders in Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California and other Western states.
•Local charity events in support of The American Legion and local communities.
•Raising money for VA hospitals, women and children centers, children and youth centers, schools and other facilities.
•Sponsoring or participating in motorcycle runs to benefit numerous charities.
•Local memorial ceremonies and community parades.
•The American Legion Legacy Run, an annual cross-country fundraising ride from National Headquarters in Indianapolis to the national convention city.
•Riding to honor fallen military men and women, and to protect the sanctity of their funerals from those who would dishonor their memory.
•Escorting military units to departure airfields and airports for combat tours overseas, and welcoming them home upon their return.

Best answer:

Answer by Margie P
Start with locally owned restaurants. ( people love to eat) Garden centers, beauty salons, tanning salons, coffee shops, anyplace that has gift certificates. If you deal with chain stores, Walgreen’s, CVS, Applebee’s, Cheddar’s, the manager might help you out, but you’ll probably have to write a letter to their corporate headquarters. Do that now, so you’ll be sure to get an answer by August. If there is a Pepsi or Coke distributor close, you could check with them, too
Post 83, in Sandusky, Ohio has a very active Riders unit. Sanduky is also home to the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home. I wish you luck. The Legion Riders do a lot of good things.

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