St. Juvin Post 1336 brings Christmas to Veterans in July

There sure wasn't any snow on the ground or any Christmas trees in evidence, but the Coal City Public Library District and St. Juvin Post 1336 brought some cheer to the residents of the Illinois Veteran's Home in Manteno on Tuesday, July 17.
The library began collecting donations of needed extras for the vets, things like snack foods, candy, jugs of punch and iced tea, bottled water with flavoring packets, personal hygiene items like toothbrushes and paste, deodorant, shower flip-flops, towels and men's clothing in mid June and the local community responded with generosity.
According to Veteran's Home personnel, between the Thanksgiving and New Year season many organizations and individuals bring these items to the home in recognition of the sacrifices that the residents have made on their behalf, but it's a long dry spell from one season to the next.  
That's where Christmas in July comes in. The vets get some much needed goodies between the traditional holiday donations.
Adult Services Librarian Kathy Brown managed the event for the Library and St. Juvin Post donated items and transported the booty to the Veteran's Home for distribution to the residents.  
Post members Randy Brown, John Dite, Ray Onsen, Keith Roseland, Jack Micetich, James “Hoppy” Phillips, Bill Bomba and Charlie Brown turned out to be Santa's helpers even if it was July.   
Between St. Juvin's donated articles and the items provided by the Gleaners Sulfur Springs Arbor and those provided by the public about $950 in extras were provided to the veterans to enjoy.
St. Juvin Commander Charlie Brown said “Partnering with the Library and the Gleaners is always a chance to multiply our services to vets and the community. We don't have a Post home so without the Library we would have been hard pressed to pull this off.  The community support and the support of local businesses and organizations that we get is the reason we are in our 93rd year, because without it, no matter how hard we worked, we would have folded up years ago.”