People can still help veterans

To the Editor:

Because of COVID-19, the Welcome Legion Auxiliary Post 553 was not able to have its annual Poppy Day fundraiser.

Poppy Day is celebrated in countries around the world. The Friday before Memorial Day is National Poppy Day. The red poppies are sold for a donation and are worn to honor the fallen and support the living who have worn our nation’s uniform. All donations received always go to the Veterans.

The Auxiliary would like to thank everyone for their past support, and if you would like to help honor and support our veterans you can send your donation to: Welcome Legion Auxiliary Post 553, c/o Lois Nelson, PO Box 413, Welcome, MN 56181.

Lois Nelson, president

Welcome Legion

Auxiliary Post 553

Community tries something new

To the Editor:

Change can be hard, and risky. So I wanted to thank Fairmont Elementary, the PETT team at the school and community businesses for being willing to try something new.

In March, we did the Support Local fundraiser for the elementary school. This consisted of 14 area businesses signing up to produce an unknown quantity of items and agreeing to donate half of the proceeds to the school, with the kids doing the selling in the form of incentives.

In addition, seven area businesses agreed to donate prizes. We also had help from the Chamber of Commerce’s retail committee, with feedback on what would help make the program more successful. Obviously, this could not have been done without these businesses or the community members who so willingly said yes to our young salespeople.

Thank you so much to Ad Mfg and Ruth, Hayley, Mikkie and Nancy, without whom this may never have gotten off the ground. They provided much of the help in getting the catalogs put together and the logistics surrounding it, along with helping coordinate area businesses, recruiting prize donations, and sorting the items and delivering them to the school.

Thank you to A Blessing Comes, Ad Mfg, Bacon Capital, Bowlmor Lanes, D&S Trophies, Fairmont Awards, Martin County Pork Producers, Metanoia Studio, Scotty Biggs’ BBQ, Simply Homemade, Smith’s Kettle Corn, STEP Inc., Whole Grain Milling, Wiederhoeft Welding for signing onto the project. Thank you to Fairmont Dairy Queen, Fairmont Opera House, Fairmont Theatre, Fairmont YMCA, Holiday Inn, Replay and Royalty Rides for prizes.

Thank you also to the third- through sixth-graders at Fairmont Elementary who helped sell these items and raise funds during a difficult time for our community. You guys rock. And congratulations for finishing the school year.

And thank you to the community for buying these items and supporting something new.

Liz Wheeler

Fairmont