PROGRAMS
Our various fundraising efforts allow us to participate in the following programs.
- Girls State - This prestigious program is a summer leadership and citizenship program held at Georgian Court University for high school juniors. The program's focus is exploring the mechanics of American government and politics. Auxiliary Unit 371 pays the full tuition for this week long program for two deserving students.
- Nursing Scholarships - Each year, at graduation, we award two $250 scholarships to deserving students towards their Nursing School tuition.
- Stand Down of South Jersey - Helping veterans is the foundation of Auxiliary Unit 371. We continue to strengthen this foundation with our involvement with 'Stand Down of South Jersey,' an outreach program to assist homeless veterans and their family members through numerous services ranging from employment to medical help, from substance abuse programs to veterans benefits information along with shelter, meals, clothing, and medical attention. In addition to donating money, Auxiliary members volunteer their time to help make a better world for these homeless vets.
- Mission of Honor - We donate to this important mission yearly. New Jersey's Mission of Honor for Cremains of American Veterans locates and identifies orphaned and abandoned cremains. This is acomplished through the joint eforts of various veterans' organizations, in order to provide honor and respect to those who have served this Country in time of peace and confilict.
- Veteran's Haven South - Transitional Housing Program for Homeless Veterans. Our nation, grateful for its hard-won freedom and democracy, owes a special debt to its Veterans. Members of Auxiliary Unit 371 work to restore dignity and purpose to those who so unselfishly laid their lives on the line for our country. Every July we sponsor a "Christmas in July" party with gifts for each veteran such as blankets, towels, toiletries, etc, in a Christmas bag. A number of times a year we sponsored a Bingo with prizes and pizza. Our members also volunteer to cook at their yearly barbecue.
- NJ Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland - A Veteran's nursing home serving the military Veteran, their spouses and Gold Star Parents. Each year, during the holidays, we donate our time and give each resident personal care items. Our volunteers and financial donation help to provide a full array of activities for each resident thereby ensuring an enhanced quality of life.
- Semper Fido - A non-profit organization committed to the rehabilitation of service members and veterans that have been injured while defending our country and have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Our donation, along with the donations from Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders, help to ensure that every veteran suffering from PTSD or TBI gets a trained service dog. It has been proven that using dogs for mental, as well as physical rehabilitation, can greatly benefit these warriors recovery.
- South Jersey Military Support Group - a nonprofit Organization that Supports the Deployed Active Duty Men and Women of our Armed Forces, their families, and our Veterans. Our donation helps to send needed items that are not provided by the Military to our troops overseas. In addition, each year we donate cases of Girl Scout cookies to overseas military.
- Chemo/Radiation Comfort Care Packages - We donate hundreds of Comfort Items, pack them in bags, and deliever them to cancer patients undergoing Chemo/Radiation at the Philadelphia VA Hospital.
- Holiday Toy and Food Drive - Every Christmas holiday we collect toys and make up food baskets for distribution to families in need.
- Children's Christmas Party - We sponsor this yearly event for the children and grandchildren of our members. Gifts for each child, crafts, pizza, and, of course, Santa Claus.
- Senior Christmas Party - Every year we invite local seniors to our annual Senior's Christmas Party where members of the Auxiliary serve Christmas Dinner, have an open bar, provide excellent entertainment, and a visit from Santa bearing gifts for everyone.
- Important Ceremonies - Members of Auxiliary Unit 371 play a major role honoring those "Who Gave Their All" at our Memorial Day Ceremony; participate in the local July 4th parade with our float; honoring those first responders and veterans who gave their lives saving others at our September 11th ceremony: greet and salute our veterans in our Applebee's Flag Line on Veterans Day. We also provide food at our Veteran's Day Ceremony.
