craigdailypress.com

The Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post 4265 in Craig has given a lot to the Moffat County community over the years.

The group has donated countless dinners, made monetary donations and volunteered hours of service to support the community in which many of them grew up.

Craig’s local chapter of the national group is comprised of mostly older members, but monthly meetings nearly always have at least six in attendance: Auxiliary president Sandy Mansfield, Juanita Williams, Jeannie Wixson, Mary Walters, Virginia Cromer and Edie Eggers.

For some members, like Sandy Mansfield, being involved with the VFW is a family tradition. She is a third generation member of the Auxiliary and her grandparents helped work to get a charter for the post in Craig.

Others have been a part of the group for 35-plus years with one member's involvement even going back almost 55 years.

“We don’t know why we do it,” member Jeannie Wixson said. “We just do it.”

The women continue to meet each month and discuss ways to make a positive impact in the community. At their most recent meeting the ladies discussed ways to improve the free bingo hosted every Friday at Sunset Meadows by discussing different prizes that could be awarded to winners.

The ladies also discussed issues with their Friday night bingo, the event where most of the group's money is made. Some members think an increase in bingo games offered around the community has resulted in a decrease in attendance at the Friday bingo event, which means the auxiliary has less money to give back to the community.

However members also were quick to point out that while they can supplement funds with bake sales and craft shows, what the group really needs is new younger members.

“Getting young people to join is difficult,” Cromer said. “We need more members, younger ones that will lend a hand.”

Darian Warden can be reached at 875-1793 or dwarden@craigdailypress.com