More than 250 Easter meals were delivered to veterans and their families this weekend by a coalition led by Haverhill’s Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lorraine Post 29.
Free meals of baked ham, mac and cheese and green beans were packaged in microwavable containers and delivered Saturday in time to be reheated for Easter Sunday, according to the VFW. The dinners were delivered to veterans and their families who registered in advance.
Besides the VFW, assistance was provided by members of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20, AMVETS Post 147, Marine Corps League, American Legion Post 4 and the Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 294. Easter cards were donated by students of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and local businesses such as Peddler’s Daughter, whose employees assisted with deliveries.
Haverhill VFW also teamed up with Disabled and Limbless Veterans and Everett Grace Food Pantry and Outreach to ensure veterans were not just well-fed for Easter, but had plenty of food for at least the next two weeks. They supplied more than 100 bags of groceries, consisting of eggs, butter, cereal, cans of soup, half-gallon of juice and more. There were also hundreds of pounds of donated chicken, cases of juice, packages of beef stew and other foods distributed.
Commander Keith Gopsill said, “This Easter we tried to make as special as possible for the Veterans in Haverhill. Given the pandemic, and knowing firsthand how challenging the last year has been, we as a Post set out to remind the veterans that we are here for them, and they have our support.” Sr. Vice Commander Shawn Watkins added, “it was an honor to be able to work with not just the other veteran organizations, but the community as well to prepare and deliver over 250 meals to the Veterans that call Haverhill home.”
Since June 2020, the Haverhill VFW has served and delivered more than 1,000 free prepared meals.