by Kimberly Fleming on 2013-12-04
The Ladies Auxiliary Unit 777 held their Annual Holiday Boutique just before the holiday shopping season kicked off late last month.
Event coordinators explained that the Holiday Boutique is a tradition and a way for the Auxiliary to reach out to the community while at the same time raising funds for their organization to continue supporting veterans throughout the Inland Empire.
Auxiliary member Diane Kassotis, whose late husband, James, was a Navy veteran, shared that she was "more than happy to volunteer," and expressed that she felt pride in how she was honoring her husband's memory and service to his country through her participation in the Auxiliary.
President Kathleen Filkins shared the plethora of work the group does for veterans in their community. “We are involved in the Adopt a Vet program at J.L. Pettis Veterans Hospital, and we also visit our vets at local convalescent homes and adopt them for a day for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. We’re also involved in the Bags for Vet program, when we deliver bags with health and hygiene necessities to our veterans. Today’s event is all about raising funds to continue to do such services that not only our veterans need, but also deserve.”
Diane Mielak, former President, whose father is a WWII veteran, started the Holiday Boutique during her presidential term. She stated the Holiday Boutique has become a successful tradition and has been in effect for over nine years. “We use the funding for programs, such as scholarships for Pacific High and Cajon High students. We send four young, well-deserving girls to the Girl State program located at the Claremont Colleges, which is a program geared towards teaching young girls about the legal and political worlds and military intelligence. We are certainly doing our best to continue to contribute such inspirational and wonderful opportunities for our local students.”
Chin Trenchard is an Army veteran who met Ron, her Navy veteran husband of over 20 years, while in the service. Trenchard modeled Army attire and worked in military intelligence security before retiring, she explained, crediting the Army for her sense of discipline and her success in the education she pursued after her retirement.
Vendors and other non-Auxiliary volunteers included Tammy Odell, an event planner who has been participating in the annual Holiday Boutique for seven years. She explained that in the past she has collaborated on various projects with the Ladies Auxiliary and "loves supporting them."
Other vendors that day included Boy Scouts of America Troop 45, who served corn on the cob with all the fixings. Auxiliary member Susan Tony served the "belly buster,' a layered dish of chili, cheese and tortilla chips.
Auxiliary leaders and members explained they look forward to continuing serving their community and area veterans as needed, and look forward to future Holiday Boutique events to assist them in doing just that.
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Ladies Auxiliary Unit 777 Holiday Boutique
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2013
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Google Map
Event Location: American Legion Post 777
Address: 194 E. 40th St. San Bernardino CA 92407
Description: Thru 3pm. Browse and shop! Handmade items, jewelry, baked goodies, decorations, painted items, holiday gifts, candles & more!
CONTACT INFO
Phone: 909-882-3110
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
“Holiday Boutique for the Vets”
The Ladies Auxiliary held their Annual Holiday Boutique this Saturday. The Holiday Boutique is a tradition and a way for the Auxiliary to reach out to the community. At the same time, raising funds for their organization to continue supporting vets throughout the Inland Empire. The Ladies Auxiliary is more than meets the eye. It’s not just a social club but a place where women are dedicated to showing their loved ones who served for our country their appreciation and they keep their memories alive by assuring the respect for Veterans lives on. The Boutique would just be a small entity of what this extraordinary group of women have to offer.
As you meet each woman you become emotionally overwhelmed with the stories behind each of them and how they become connected to the exceptional Ladies Auxiliary originally.
For example, Diane Kassotis who when asked through whom service was she eligible she stated her late husband James while trying to hold back tears. Her friend Joan who sat next to her was eligible through her husband Oscar who also served in the Navy as well. Both ladies were more than happy to volunteer and were proud of how they were honoring their husbands’ bravery and commitment to their country.
President Kathleen Filkins, who is eligible through her brother and father, could literally take you on a virtual tour of every organization and program that the Ladies Auxiliary is involved. She stated “We are involved in “Adopt a Vet” program at J.L. Pettis Veterans Hospital, we also visit our vets at local convalescent homes and adopt them for a day for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. We’re also involved the “Bags for Vet” program when we deliver bags with health and hygiene necessities for our veterans. Today’s events is all about raising funds to continue to do such services that not only our Veterans need but deserve.”
Diane Mielak former President, whose eligibility is through her later father a WWII Vet, started the Holiday Boutique during her presidential term and she stated the Holiday Boutique has become a successful tradition and has been effect for over nine years. She would continue to explain that the organization goes above and beyond to assist the community in other aspects as well. For example, she stated “We use the funding for programs such as scholarships for Pacific High and Cajon High students. And we send four young well deserving girls to the Girl State Program located at the Claremont Colleges. A program geared towards teaching young girls about the legal, political world, and military intelligence. We are certainly doing our best to continue to contribute such inspirational and wonderful opportunities for our local students.”
You would certainly meet wonderful people such as Ching Trenchard an army retiree who met her navy retiree husband, Ron, of over 20 years while serving. She also modeled army attire and worked in the military intelligence security before retiring. She credits the army for her discipline and success in the educational field she would later pursue after leaving the army. And is more than happy to assist her fellow Veterans in helping with any unmet needs.
You will also find other vendors and volunteers that are not members such as Tammy Odell an event planner who has been coming to the Holiday Boutique for seven years. As a successful local event planner she has done a lot business for and with the Ladies Auxiliary and she love supporting them. Vendors to show women health and beauty products were in attendance as well as a self-defense instructor. Boy Scouts of America Troop 45 was also in attendance serving delicious grilled corn on the cob with all the fixings. However, the most traditional and must have was served by a fellow member Susan Tony called the “Belly Buster” a layered dish that consist of chili, cheese, tortilla chips followed by another layer. DELICIOUS!
The ladies auxiliary plan to continue their hard work and perseverance for their community as much as they can. They are definitely a beautiful group of successful, classy, and educated women who has made those they serve proud.