VFW AND AUXILIARY AID VETERANS HOME

As part of an effort to enhance recreational activities for residents of the Cape Girardeau Missouri Veterans Home, local VFW District 15 Posts and Ladies Auxiallary Units have donated over $2,600 to be used as prizes at a new weekly bingo session.

Cape Girardeau VFW Post 3838 presented $1,300 to the home and will send a matching amount later in the year. Members pledged to make it an annual donation.

Other funding came from VFW Posts and Auxiliary Posts in Wappapello, Chaffee, Poplar Bluff, Doniphan, Caruthersville, Marble Hill, Puxico and Cape Girardeau.

Sam McVay, Veterans Home administrator, said in addition to providing an activity for many of 150 residents, weekly bingo games give indigent residents with an opportunity to win a few dollars for spending money.

He said about one-third of the Veterans Home residents have only the $50 per month that the Veterans Administration allows them to keep after other benefits go for health care needs.

"Winning a few bucks at a bingo game," said McVay, "means more to these needy patriots than to most people."

In addition to monetary donations, several area VFW Posts, Auxiliary Units and businesses provide volunteer workers to help with recreational activities for the veterans.