Legion gives thanks for grant help
Kalispell American Legion Post 137 thanks Mark Lalum, board director for Flathead Electric's Round Up for Safety Program, for his help in preparing a grant to get their new Youth Shooting Program up and running.
The $2,000 grant has been designated for safety training materials and protective equipment, including videos and manuals, goggles, hearing protection and pellet traps.
Post Commander Bruce Trimble explains that while the program is new in our area, it has already been successfully sponsored by the American Legion in other areas across the country.
Local boys and girls ages 12 to 18 will be trained in gun safety and marksmanship by National Rifle Association-certified instructors and also have the opportunity to compete with other American Legions at regional, state and national levels. Top qualifiers may ultimately go on to the next Olympics competition.
"The primary purpose is to educate the kids about gun safety and ownership while giving them something worthwhile to get involved in," Trimble said. "They'll also be encouraged to take the hunter safety course and to become responsible hunters."
With their youth baseball program and other sponsored events, the American Legion's main goal for youth is to promote activities that have a positive impact on them and the community.
Anyone interested in their Youth Shooting Program may send their name, address and phone number to American Legion Post 137, P.O. Box 10164, Kalispell, MT 59904.
The North West Montana Veterans Food Pantry was surprised last week by a donation of food collected by Mary Sullivan's junior class students at Bigfork High School. This was the second annual collection for the Veterans Food Pantry that Sullivan's class has gathered as part of a project to honor veterans.
The students also interviewed veterans and used their oral histories for a Veterans Day ceremony at the high school. On that day, the school assembles and, while the band plays, the students read aloud those histories. This year veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq were present and were honored.
Rachel Marie Konopka, a senior at Bigfork High School, organized and collected food for the drive; her second year spearheading the collection. Over the course of two weeks, Sullivan's students brought in a total of 235 pounds of food which was stacked in the classroom. Konopka then delivered it to the pantry on Nov. 12, the day after Veterans Day.
Sullivan says it's one way the students can honor those Americans who served to protect our freedom. They also saw the gathering and sharing of food as a way to connect to those Vietnam veterans who felt alienated after they returned from the war. Sullivan plans to continue her classroom's veterans food drive tradition in the years ahead.
"From all our local veterans and their families we want to say 'Thank You' for your continuing support," says North West Montana Veterans Food Pantry business manager Linda Erickson. "Together we can and do make a difference in the lives of our veterans and their families."