SIDNEY — Members of Sidney American Legion Post 217 will join hundreds of other American Legion pPosts in Ohio to help make this Christmas memorable for hospitalized veterans.

They are doing it by collecting funds for the annual American Legion-Department of Ohio Gifts for Yanks program. Members of Post 217 will be collecting funds Saturday, Nov, 21 at both entrances to Walmart, Kroger’s and Sidney Food Town.

Since 1952 The American Legion-Department of Ohio has been pooling funds from pPosts throughout Ohio for gifts and activities benefitting veterans in Ohio’s state hospitals, VA Medical Centers, outpatient clinics and the Ohio Veteran’s Homes at Sandusky and Georgetown.

“This effort is not limited to members of the Legion,” said Commander Rick Lunsford. “We welcome contributions from individuals and business establishments to help finance the state-wide program costing nearly $400,000. Checks may be made payable to Gifts for Yanks and sent to me at Sidney American Legion-Post 217, P.O. Box 297, Sidney, OH 45365.”

In addition to distributing individual gifts to veteran patients, the Ohio American Legion also contributes to each of the five gift shops at the VA hospitals, whereby patients may select gifts to send to their families, and nearly $20,000 for purchase of canteen books for VA patients. The program funds also will provide televisions, radios and other electronic equipment for the VA hospitals and the Ohio Veterans’ Homes and more than $100,000 for other-than-Christmas activities for VA and state hospital patients, as well as year-round recreation opportunities.